Korean agricultural and food products are set to target major U.S. food distribution networks as well as the foodservice and institutional markets. The strategy is to expand K-food exports—which have thus far focused on business-to-consumer (B2C) channels such as local supermarkets and retail stores—into the large-scale business-to-business (B2B) market to secure a stable source of demand.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will participate in the 2026 Institute of Food Distributors of America (IFDA) Conference, taking place in San Antonio, Texas, from September 14 to 15.
Approximately 1,500 food distribution industry professionals, including representatives from Sysco, the world’s largest food distribution company, will attend the event. As a leading North American B2B trade show covering food distribution technology, supply chain management (SCM), and logistics automation solutions, the event brings together key players in the food distribution industry.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, in collaboration with the Korea Food Distribution Association (KFDA), will set up a Korean Pavilion to promote the excellence of Korean food products while seeking to secure new distribution channels in the U.S.
The Korea Pavilion will feature six companies that produce and export fermented soybean pastes, sauces, ready-to-eat meals, and frozen dumplings—products with high utility and competitiveness in the North American B2B market. Participating companies include Nongshim Taekyung, Dongwon F&B, Samsung Welstory, CJ Freshway, Pulmuone, and Hanmi F3.
The Korea Pavilion will feature a K-Food Authenticity Promotion Zone, a shared cooking space, and a business lounge. Along with promoting K-Food, the pavilion plans to conduct product tastings and export consultations to expand opportunities for engagement with local buyers.
In particular, buyers will be able to taste K-sauces and frozen dumplings firsthand, and the pavilion will also present specific recipes and supply models for incorporating these products into local institutional meal programs and restaurant menus.
The aim is to lay the groundwork for actual transactions by enabling buyers to comprehensively evaluate factors such as bulk storage convenience and distribution conditions—which are necessary when introducing products into large-scale food distribution networks.
To maximize the benefits of conference participation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is also implementing a full-cycle export support system covering pre-event, on-site, and post-event phases.
Prior to the event, the ministry will analyze each buyer’s areas of interest and demand to facilitate one-on-one matchmaking with domestic export companies, and will provide support for in-depth export consultations on-site. Following the event, it plans to continue follow-up support, such as sending product samples and conducting online consultations, to help secure actual export contracts.
A food ingredient distributor who attended the event said that it was a great opportunity to taste K-foods popular in the U.S. market, including various sauces and ready-to-eat meals, and to talk with export companies on-site, adding they were able to confirm the competitiveness of K-food ingredients and their potential for expansion in the U.S. market.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to use the insights gathered at this conference, including the characteristics of North American food ingredient distribution and supply chains, as well as buyer information by channel, to formulate future strategies for expanding B2B exports of K-food ingredients to the U.S.
Furthermore, the ministry will work to identify sustainable, large-scale demand sources by collaborating with Korean companies already established in the U.S. to organize K-Food Days aimed at increasing the consumption of K-food ingredients in on-site cafeterias and other venues. The plan is to broaden the consumer base for K-food ingredients in the U.S. and secure stable export channels by strengthening cooperation with relevant companies.
Jeong Gyeong-seok, Director General of Food Industry Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated that for K-Food to move beyond a temporary trend and establish itself as a mainstream global culinary culture, it is essential to target food distribution networks that lead to large-scale consumption, such as institutional meals and the restaurant industry, adding that it will spare no effort in providing policy support, including buyer identification and online and offline marketing, to ensure that high-quality K-food ingredients successfully establish themselves in the global B2B market and become a new driving force for expanding agricultural and food exports, he said.
