[Daum-Digital Times] “Woomtree Successfully Enters U.S. Costco… Full-Scale Targeting of North American Market with K-Sauce”

- Specialist in fermented pastes and sauces… Supplying 'Everjang' (meat and onion sauce, salad dressing, etc.) and traditional gochujang

- The only store to open, beating out major domestic conglomerates… Enhancing the status of K-Food

Representative Kim Sang-hee: “We will increase the number of export countries from the current 45 to over 80.”

Kim Sang-hee, CEO of Umtree Co., Ltd., standing with the company's gochujang, which is selling well at Costco in the U.S. (San Francisco branch). [Courtesy of Umtree]

Food company Umtree Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Sang-hee) announced on the 24th that it has succeeded in supplying its 'Everjang' (meat and onion sauce, salad sauce) and traditional gochujang to Costco in the United States, thereby entering a key distribution network in the U.S.

Accordingly, Umtrie recently began selling 'Everjang' and gochujang at 40 Costco stores in California and Hawaii, and plans to expand to Costco stores across the United States soon.

‘'EverJang' is an all-purpose sauce developed by Umturi with the concept that it is suitable for various dishes anytime, anywhere, embodying the meaning of 'Everywhere, Everytime'. Available as a meat and onion sauce and a salad dressing, it brings out the deep flavor and umami unique to onions, making it suitable for enhancing the quality of various dishes, including not only meat dishes but also salad dressings, grilled dishes, and stir-fried dishes.

‘Unlike other companies that intensively ferment and age their products for a short period at high temperatures, 'Traditional Gochujang' is a premium product that utilizes a 'low-temperature fermentation method' of slow, long-term aging at low temperatures.

Umturi is a company that has specialized in the research, development, and production of fermented sauces and condiments for 48 years since 1978, and has been recognized for its competitiveness in the market based on its excellent quality products. In particular, this successful entry is significant in that it passed the rigorous screening process of Costco in the United States, which is famous for its strict quality standards.

Costco is known for stocking only the best brand in any product category. Therefore, Umturi's successful entry is considered tantamount to Costco recognizing Umturi as a prestigious sauce company.

Kim Sang-hee, CEO of Umtree, who is spearheading the company's overseas business, stated, "This achievement is the result of a combination of quality-first management that makes no compromises on quality and a challenging spirit to find new growth engines in overseas markets." She added, "Taking this entry into Costco as an opportunity, we will strengthen our penetration of the North American market and pursue entry into Costco stores worldwide in the future.",

He added, “Recently, as the popularity of K-Food has risen in overseas markets, global demand is also increasing,” and stated, “We will expand the number of export countries from the current 45 to over 80 within three years.”.

The retail industry assessed that Umturi’s selection by Costco, a global retail giant, after overcoming fierce competition with other major domestic companies, was a result of its product quality and competitiveness being recognized, and that it demonstrated that small and medium-sized enterprises can succeed on the world stage if they secure expertise and quality excellence in a specific field.

Umturi expects that this entry into Costco in the U.S. will serve as an opportunity to further elevate the status of K-Food in the global market.

Reporter Jung Rae-yeon fodus0202@dt.co.kr | Copyright © Digital Times. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.