Orion Kkobuk Chip Now Available in All Carrefour Stores Across France

First K-Snack to Launch in All Stores Simultaneously
"Four-Layered Texture" Praised in the U.S. and Europe

Orion announced on September 1 that its Kkobuk Chip has been stocked in all Carrefour stores across France. This marks the first time that any K-snack has simultaneously entered the entire network of Carrefour, which operates around 1,200 hypermarkets nationwide in France. This achievement comes about a year after Orion began targeting the European market in September last year, starting with the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Iceland.

Photo by Orion

According to Orion, Carrefour typically expands the number of stores carrying a new product gradually, based on sales trends. However, in the case of Kkobuk Chip, an internal product review led to the exceptional decision to launch in all stores at once. Buyers highly praised the product’s unique four-layered texture and overall quality. Orion added, "The growing interest in Korean food, driven by the spread of K-pop and K-culture, also played a positive role."

Kkobuk Chip has already boosted its global recognition by being featured in Allrecipes, the world’s largest culinary magazine, which described it as "soft yet crispy, with a unique four-layered texture," and compared it to other popular international snacks.

The first flavor launched in the French market is Choco Churros, which previously caused a "sold-out frenzy" in Korea. Orion aims to quickly establish a presence by appealing to French consumers’ love for sweet desserts. The company plans to further expand its lineup by introducing additional flavors tailored to local preferences.

Orion has already proven the effectiveness of its localized strategy in the United States. Since its initial export of corn soup flavor in 2017, the company has introduced ten different flavors, including seaweed, truffle, and flaming lime. As a result, Kkobuk Chip’s export volume to the U.S. grew more than 230 times from 2017 to last year. Orion’s goal is to make Kkobuk Chip its second global hit product, following Choco Pie.

Currently, Kkobuk Chip produced in Korea is exported to more than 20 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. In China and Vietnam, Orion has established local production systems to target domestic markets. Recently, the company has been working to expand exports to Germany, the Netherlands, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

Orion plans to use its integrated center, which began construction in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province in August, as a global logistics hub to further accelerate overseas sales. An Orion representative stated, "Thanks to the spread of K-culture, including K-Pop Demon Hunters, exports of Kkobuk Chip are surging," adding, "There is also growing interest from international buyers in a variety of products, such as Yegam and Almeongi Jelly."