[Edaily Reporter kim mi-kyung ] Kim Jeong-soo, Chairman of SamyangFoods; Kim Dong-seon, President of Future Strategy at Hanwha Machinery & Service Holdings (Hanwha M&S); and Park Jin-seon, CEO of SEMPIO FOODS—along with other leaders of major domestic food companies—gathered in Paris, France. They visited “SIAL Paris 2026”—considered one of the world’s top three food exhibitions—in person to accelerate the global expansion of K-Food. This move is seen as going beyond mere product promotion to review local strategies and seek opportunities to expand exports.

According to the Korea Food Industry Association and industry sources on the 19th, 11 Korean food companies—including Binggrae, SamyangFoods, SAMLIP, and Nongshim—are participating in “SIAL Paris 2026,” which is being held from the 17th to the 21st at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center in Paris, France.

This year’s exhibition is expected to draw over 8,000 companies from more than 130 countries and attract more than 290,000 food industry professionals. The Korea Food Industry Association is operating the “K-Food Leading Companies Pavilion,” which spans approximately 87 booths (778.5 square meters). The pavilion showcases everything from iconic Korean foods—such as instant noodles, baked goods, and fermented sauces—to innovative products that reflect global consumer trends.

Chairman Kim Jeong-soo ( SamyangFoods(003230) ) has been focusing on expanding business in Europe through on-site global management since taking office in June of this year. This marks SamyangFoods’ first participation in SIAL Paris. The company’s strategy is to boost brand awareness and expand its local distribution network by highlighting its flagship global brands, Buldak and Tangle. SamyangFoods’ European subsidiary is showing strong growth in the European market, with sales expected to rise from approximately 32.6 billion won in 2024 to 183.1 billion won in 2025. In the second quarter of this year, the European subsidiary also recorded sales of 80.6 billion won.

Kim Dong-seon, President of Future Strategy at Hanwha M&S, also visited the OurHome booth to inspect the products and the exhibition site. Following his leadership in the acquisition of OurHome last year, he demonstrated his interest in expanding overseas operations by personally assessing the global food industry firsthand. As OurHome is working to secure overseas catering clients and expand food exports, this visit is expected to provide a boost to its global business efforts.

An OurHome official stated, “We visited the booths of various global food companies, including OurHome, to assess the current state of the global food industry and the market,” adding, “We will continue to actively target overseas markets with our distinctive taste and quality.”

#It is reported that SEMPIO FOODS CEO Park Jin-sun and Executive Vice President Park Yong-hak visited the event together. SEMPIO FOODS is focusing on the globalization of Korean ingredients based on soy sauce and fermentation. The company is introducing Korea’s unique fermented food culture—including soy sauce, gochujang, and Yeondu—and will participate in “The Korean Pantry” event on the 20th, co-hosted by the Korea Food Industry Association and the global gastronomic evaluation organization La Liste. Samyang plans to demonstrate recipes using Korean ingredients to local chefs to highlight product versatility and expand its network of food industry professionals, importers, and distribution buyers.

Nongshim(004370)CEO Jo Yong-cheol visited the venue to lead export consultations with global buyers and unveiled the new product “Shin Ramyun Rosé” to the European market for the first time. The company also held Shin Ramyun tasting events both inside and outside the exhibition hall to allow local consumers to experience “K-ramen” culture firsthand.

SPC SAMLIP(005610) CEO Jeong In-ho also visited the event to assess product competitiveness and global business opportunities. The company showcased approximately 40 varieties of traditional Korean snacks and baked goods—such as hotteok, hobang, and yakgwa—to international buyers, while exploring new export opportunities and expanding distribution channels.

The reason food company executives are personally attending overseas trade shows stems from the growing demand for K-food in the European market. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, K-food exports to the European Union (EU) from January through September of this year totaled $728.38 million, a 23.5% increase compared to the same period last year. Analysts note that as overseas demand—which had previously centered on ramen and ready-to-eat meals—has broadened to include sauces, baked goods, and fermented sauces, Europe is emerging as a new growth market for Korean food companies.

A food industry official stated, “Although Europe has strict food regulations, it is a market where demand for K-food has been growing rapidly recently,” adding, “It is important to understand local consumers’ tastes and the distribution environment while expanding contacts with buyers, so that this leads to actual export contracts and the establishment of stable distribution networks.”