(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Sung Hye-mi: CU, a convenience store, announced on the 11th that it has set up dedicated display stands for private brand (PB) products at Don Quijote, Japan’s largest variety store, and will export a variety of additional PB products.
CU acquired the status of a specialized trading company in 2022, enabling it to bypass intermediary export companies. Since April of this year, it has exported 30,000 units of the PB product ‘HEYROO Cheese-flavored Ramen’ to over 450 Don Quijote locations in Japan.
Following the cheese-flavored ramen, CU is adding HEYROO Cheongyang Pepper Ramen, Gim Bugak (seaweed chips), butter stick cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and more, totaling 15 types of products, which will be sold at more than 600 Don Quijote locations.
The management of Don Quijote has decided to expand its product lineup into various categories due to the growing customer response to Korean convenience store products.
Won Hwi-yeon, head of BGF Retail’s global trading team, stated, “We will pursue business diversification beyond domestic distribution into the export industry and actively aid small and medium-sized enterprises in entering overseas markets through cooperative growth efforts.”
So far, CU has exported its PB products, such as ramen, snacks, and beverages, to over 20 countries including the United States, China, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Mongolia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kyrgyzstan. Starting this year, CU aims for an annual export target of 10 million dollars.