- Through a unique partnership with Luerang and Carrefour, secured exclusive supply contracts for over 60 hypermarkets with Korean brands in Q2
- Following the successful launch of the first K-Food Concept Store 'Nukim' in Nice last February, aggressive store expansion planned this year
‘K-Food Startup Luerang,’ which introduces Korean food products from various categories to the world, announced that it has secured an exclusive supply contract with Carrefour, the largest retail company in France, for numerous Korean brands. Starting with Carrefour Hypermarket entry, Luerang plans to maintain an exclusive position in K-food distribution throughout France and Europe.
Carrefour, the largest supermarket chain in France, operates 11,000 stores worldwide. In the past, Carrefour revolutionized the stagnant European supermarket market by introducing a modern warehouse-style discount mart with self-service purchasing. The recent active collaboration between Carrefour and Luerang is attracting attention as to whether it can bring another transformation in France and Europe through K-food.
Kim Jik, CEO of Luerang, stated, “It is a great honor to start a new chapter together with Carrefour, a leader in French and global distribution. K-food in the European market is just the beginning. Beyond holding an exclusive position in Korean food distribution in France and Europe, Luerang wants to contribute to the growth of the Korean food market itself. Just like Luerang’s mission to deliver the most wonderful Korean experience to grandmothers in rural areas worldwide.”
In 2023, as South Korea’s cumulative trade deficit surged to $266 billion, raising economic crisis concerns, K-food remains one of the few sectors with growing export volumes. However, most export volumes are led by large corporations, and it is challenging for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to venture into exports. This is because most countries have strict import regulations for food products, and domestic manufacturers are mostly small-scale, making it difficult to launch localized products through sufficient research and development.
Through its distribution network and diverse localization experience in the European market, Luerang not only distributes well-known brands such as Nongshim, Dongwon, and Sempio but also focuses on discovering and introducing promising domestic SME products to the market. Additionally, through the aggressive expansion of the K-Food Concept Store ‘NUKIM, Neukkim,’ which successfully opened last February, Luerang plans to create opportunities for various Korean foods to enter the European market.
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