Daesang's Jongga Triples U.S. Kimchi Exports, Expands Local…

Event summary

Jongga's U.S. kimchi exports grew from $32M in 2017 to $90M in 2025, now accounting for 56% of Korea's total kimchi exports.
Daesang opened a 10,000 sqm kimchi plant in California in 2022 with 2,000 metric tons annual capacity.
Acquired Lucky Foods in 2023 to expand local production and distribution networks in the U.S.
Launched gourmet kimchi line with Michelin-starred chef Corey Lee in 2024.

The big picture

Daesang's aggressive U.S. expansion reflects the growing global demand for Korean fermented foods. By establishing local production and distribution, Jongga is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the $86M kimchi export market. The company's focus on product innovation and culinary collaborations demonstrates its commitment to making kimchi a staple in American diets.

What we're watching

Market Penetration: How Jongga's localization strategy will affect its market share in the U.S. against domestic competitors.
Supply Chain: Whether Daesang can maintain consistent kimchi quality with locally sourced ingredients.
Product Innovation: The pace at which Jongga can introduce new product formats to capture mainstream U.S. consumers.