“Walkerhill Hotel Kimchi” (Image courtesy of Walkerhill Hotel & Resort)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — What began as a side business rooted in Korean culinary tradition has become a full-fledged export strategy for the nation’s top hotels. As premium kimchi gains traction among global consumers, luxury hotel brands are ramping up production and shipping abroad.
According to the hospitality industry on Tuesday, Walkerhill Hotel & Resort made its first U.S. export of seven tons of “Walkerhill Kimchi” last month, targeting Los Angeles, where demand was so high that half of the shipment sold out within a day. Fresh-style “young radish” kimchi sold particularly fast, with American customers praising the authentic flavor and freshness.
Walkerhill said it spent two years developing special packaging technology to slow natural fermentation, allowing kimchi to retain its just-made taste even after long-distance shipping. A second shipment is set to depart this month, with expansion plans into Mexico, Canada, and Southeast Asia. The hotel is also redeveloping recipes for its premium “SUPEX Kimchi” line for export.
Walkerhill, the first Korean hotel to enter the kimchi business, established a kimchi research lab in 1989, launched the SUPEX brand in 1997, and introduced its current label in 2018. Sales have soared — up 72 percent year-on-year through August and nearly tripled compared to 2023.
Lotte Hotel Kimchi (Imaege courtesy of Lotte Hotels & Resorts)
Josun Hotels & Resorts, operator of the Westin Josun brand, aims to achieve 100 billion won ($72 million) in kimchi sales by 2030 and expand overseas. Riding a wave of demand for premium kimchi during the pandemic, its kimchi line has posted double-digit annual growth every year since 2021. A new production plant is slated to open early next year to support exports.
“Interest in Korean cuisine has grown worldwide, and foreign customers now have a deeper understanding of kimchi,” a Josun Hotels spokesperson said. “We expect continued demand for hotel-crafted, premium-quality kimchi.”
Lotte Hotels & Resorts plans to begin exporting kimchi in 2025 through its global network in Japan, Vietnam, and the United States, using its hotel chain as a distribution hub. After shelving the business twice in the past decade, Lotte reentered the kimchi market in 2023 and has already surpassed last year’s total sales within the first nine months of this year.
The company also launched a line of ready-made kimchi dishes, including kimchi stew and stir-fried kimchi, to strengthen its product lineup.
“With our global chain as a bridgehead, we aim to introduce the value of Korean kimchi to the world,” a Lotte Hotels representative said. “The trust, cleanliness, and sophistication associated with our brand will enhance kimchi’s image on the global stage.”
As K-food continues to spread worldwide, these hotels are betting that the distinctly Korean staple can become not only a culinary ambassador — but also a global business success story.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
