The U.S. egg industry is getting an opportunity to meet directly with potential new customers in South Korea.
In a February 15 email, the American Egg Board (AEB) announced egg producers are invited to one-on-one meetings on March 23 in Seoul, South Korea, in conjunction with the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council’s (USAPEEC) Strategic Planning Conference in the East Asian country’s capital. The AEB said as many as 27 Korean companies could be involved in the meetings. A full list of potential attendees can be read here.
The largest South Korean companies expected to attend are:
- Shinsegae Food, a major foodservice and bakery operator.
- Ourhome, part of LG Corp. and the largest mass catering and food distribution company in South Korea.
- CJ Foodville, part of CJ Corp. and the largest food company in the country.
- Hyundai Green Food: Part of Hyundai Group, with multiple food-related divisions including bakery, mass catering, foodservice, as well as food distribution.
- CJ Cheiljedang: The country’s largest food manufacturer.
- Pulmuone: The country’s second largest food manufacturer.
- Daewang Custard: A popular custard shop with more than 240 stores in the country and a high demand for eggs.
The registration deadline is February 16. Interested parties can contact Jennifer Geck Ott, USAPEEC director of allied industry relations, at [email protected].
Export opportunity in South Korea
Due to South Korea’s ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza crisis, the country is a prime destination for U.S. egg and egg product exports. In January, the U.S. exported 14 million eggs to the country in response to the massive loss in production due to culls.
According to South Korean media reports, more than 33.14 million chickens have been culled since November in an attempt to stop the disease. For the first time ever, egg imports from the US were allowed in order to stem surging food prices.
The AEB facilitated meetings come as the check-off supported entity charged with promoting egg consumption makes increasing exports of U.S. eggs a strategic priority for 2017. In February, the AEB announced it is focusing on growing exports to South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Mexico as well as nations in the Middle East and the Caribbean.
