Coupang and Coupang Eats Support K-Food Small Businesses Entering Japan

Coupang and Coupang Eats are providing step-by-step support for small food businesses in South Korea looking to enter the Japanese market, from training to menu consulting and local sales.
 
On October 1, Coupang and Coupang Eats announced the launch of the 'K-Food Overseas Expansion Program' in collaboration with the Shinjuku Korean Merchants Association. The program began with introductory training in September, followed by menu consulting this month, and will offer local sales opportunities in Japan for outstanding participants in November.
 
Participants include small food business owners, traditional market vendors, and aspiring entrepreneurs considering entry into the Japanese market. This month, participants will create dishes they wish to showcase in Japan and receive evaluations and one-on-one consulting from chefs and food industry experts.
 
Coupang and Coupang Eats will select outstanding participants based on their business plans, menu quality, and expert evaluations. Selected participants will take part in the 'Shin-Okubo Multicultural Festival' in November, where they will sell their developed K-Food through food trucks. They will also observe local market trends and consumer reactions firsthand.
 
Shin-Okubo is a prominent Koreatown in Japan, home to over 700 shops as of June, with approximately 350 of them being restaurants. On June 17, Coupang and Coupang Eats signed a memorandum of understanding with the Shinjuku Korean Merchants Association to support K-Food's entry into Japan, focusing on local market connections and training and consulting initiatives.
 
Coupang is also expanding its support for overseas market entry. In Taiwan, it is collaborating with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups Agency to assist local small businesses in entering the market, providing comprehensive support from product registration to marketing, logistics, customs, and customer service.
 
A Coupang Eats representative stated, "We established this program to allow small business owners interested in the Japanese market to experience the local market directly. We will continue to offer various programs to support the challenges faced by small businesses."