E-mart, one of the country’s major discount chains, will make inroads into the U.S. market by exporting its private-label products, the company said Wednesday.
The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with MBC America, a Korean TV program distributer based in Los Angeles, to introduce products developed under the retailer’s brand. Products will be promoted through home shopping shows scheduled to be broadcast between regular programs. The plan targets Korean-American viewers in U.S. cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.
E-mart plans to export $100,000 worth of Korean red-ginseng six-year extract products within this month and expand the shipment to $1 million within this year. The ginseng product is one of the best-selling private-label products developed by E-mart. Since its market debut in 2013, more than 200,000 units of E-mart’s ginseng extract have been sold each year, it said.
E-mart has been exporting its products to its own branches overseas. The deal is the first case of the Korean discount chain supplying its product through a local distributing channel, the company said.
In the latter half of the year, E-mart also plans to begin a delivery service for Korean-American customers who wish to send products to their families in Korea.
The company also plans to select items to attract interests not only from Korean-Americans but also other U.S. customers.
E-mart in collaboration with small and medium-sized firms, has been developing a wide range of products under the retailers’ brand name. Its entry into the U.S. will help Korean SMEs secure opportunities to expand business overseas, an official said.
