Korea’s CU Opens First U.S. Store in Hawaii, Marking American Market Entry (Image courtesy of BGF Retail)
SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s leading convenience store chain CU has opened its first store in the United States, marking the brand’s official entry into the American market with the debut of its “CU Downtown” branch in Honolulu, Hawaii.
BGF Retail, which operates CU, said Thursday that it launched the store on November 12 (local time) through a master franchise agreement with local company WKF Inc., establishing a new joint venture, CU Hawaii LLC. The move makes CU the first Korean convenience store brand to expand beyond Asia and into the U.S.
Under the slogan “K-Food Meets Aloha,” the store blends Korean convenience culture with Hawaiian sensibilities, offering a curated mix of K-foods, collaborative products, and lifestyle goods.
The outlet features CU’s signature private label PBICK alongside popular Korean items such as seaweed crisps, instant ramen, ready-to-eat rice, and household staples. Korean bakery favorites like Yonsei Milk Cream Bread and Knotted Donuts, as well as Peaceminusone Highball, are also being sold.
Honolulu, Hawaii (Image courtesy of Public Domain Pictures/CCL)
Menu offerings have been tailored for local tastes and prices, divided into three themes: K-Original (traditional Korean meals), K-Fusion (Korean-inspired recipes), and Local Flavor (Hawaiian dishes reinterpreted through Korean cuisine).
The 230-square-meter (about 70-pyeong) store, located in downtown Honolulu’s central business district, features a ramen station where customers can cook “Hangang Ramen,” a photo kiosk, and a dedicated goods section selling Hawaiian-patterned tumblers and tote bags designed by local artist Sig Zane, who also created the store’s signature Hawaiian art motifs.
BGF Retail said it shared its logistics, manufacturing, and distribution expertise with its Hawaiian partner over the past five months and plans to open 50 CU locations across Hawaii within three years, focusing on key areas such as Waikiki Beach, Ala Moana, and Kahala.
CU currently operates 749 overseas stores across Mongolia, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan.
“Based on more than 30 years of brand power and a proven franchise system, CU is now bringing the taste and spirit of Korea to Hawaii,” said Hong Jung-kuk, vice chairman of BGF Retail. “Our entry into the U.S. marks a milestone in expanding the global influence of Korea’s convenience store industry and promoting K-culture worldwide.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
