K-Food demonstrated its innovation and export competitiveness at the world’s largest food expo, ‘SIAL Paris 2026.’ South Korea was recognized as one of the three most innovative countries alongside France and the Czech Republic, achieving 1,899 export consultations and 45 memorandums of understanding (MOU) and contracts.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on October 27 that it operated a unified Korean pavilion at SIAL Paris 2026, held from October 17 to 21, with 78 exporting companies.
Now in its 62nd year, SIAL Paris is a biennial European food expo. This year, 8,000 exporting companies from 130 countries participated, attracting over 290,000 industry professionals. Key trends included health and functional foods, low-sugar products, plant-based alternatives, and AI-based food technology.
South Korea was selected as one of the top three countries for innovation and quality at the expo. Domestic companies, including Ourhome and Medisol, received SIAL Innovation Awards, with Medisol recognized for its AI-based nutrition design technology. Additionally, 47 products from 16 domestic companies were selected for the ‘SIAL Innovation Selection.’
Selected products included Lotte Wellfood’s ‘I’m Control Gum,’ Tijen’s kombucha, Nokchawon’s portion tea, and Nongshim’s collagen products, among others. Ourhome’s protein products, plant-based alternatives, Youngpoong’s halal harissa tteokbokki, Samlip’s yakbap burrito, and Sehwa Seafood’s seaweed snacks were also recognized as innovative products.
The Korean pavilion featured experiential exhibitions, including tastings of Korean cuisine and cooking shows. Various products, such as omija wine, traditional liquor, gochujang sauce, and tteokbokki, attracted the interest of local buyers. Products emphasizing convenience and health, like frozen processed poultry and low-sugar konjac jelly, also garnered attention, with the konjac jelly leading to on-site contracts.
The exhibition results translated into export consultations and contracts. Companies participating in the unified Korean pavilion conducted a total of 1,899 export consultations worth $95 million with global buyers from Europe, North America, and the Middle East. On-site, 45 MOUs and contracts were signed, amounting to $15 million.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held a meeting with participating companies to discuss challenges in entering the European market and strategies for expanding food ingredient exports and local distribution networks. Companies suggested improvements in support for participation in expos and increased assistance for food ingredient exports.
Jung Kyung-seok, Director of Food Industry Policy at the Ministry, stated, “This SIAL Paris confirmed that K-Food has evolved beyond a temporary trend to become a key player leading global food market trends and technologies. We will support local buyer matching, entry into major retail stores, B2B food ingredient market development, and local marketing.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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