K-food highlights sustainability, convenience at SIAL Paris

Sustainability and convenience were on the mind of Korean food brands as they showcased their products — many of them highlighting their plant-based or ready-to-eat items — at SIAL Paris, Europe’s largest food innovation trade show.

Visitors at SIAL Paris taste Korean food brands' products showcased at the food innovation trade show held from Oct. 19 through Oct. 23 at Paris Nord Villepinte, France. [OURHOME]

Sustainability and convenience were on the mind of Korean food brands as they showcased their products — many of them highlighting their plant-based or ready-to-eat items — at SIAL Paris, Europe’s largest food innovation trade show.

The biggest number of Korean food and beverage companies joined this year’s event from Oct. 19 through Oct. 23, which also saw its largest participation yet with over 7,500 businesses flying in from around 130 countries.

A total of 75 small- to mid-sized firms were present at the Korean Pavilion curated by the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation, while nine companies set up booths at the Korea Food Industry Association’s “K-Food Leaders Pavilion” and 20 others joined independently.

Businesses showcased products easy to store or convenient to use that are tailored for European consumers. Daesang, known for its kimchi brand Jongga, showed off its Kimchi Spread, which can be used like jam on bread, along with its freeze-dried Kimchi Crunch Bites. There were also products topped with kimchi powder available for tasting at its booth.

Maeil Dairies staff hand out tasing poritions of its Amazing Oat drinks at SIAL Paris.[MAEIL DAIRIES]

Many other items put out by Korean companies were vegan, which is a strategy that companies have employed to bypass Europe’s tough food regulations. Processed products of animal origin, for instance, must be approved by the European Union to be imported into its member countries. Foods like kimchi that include fish sauce, ramyeon made with a meat broth or dairy confectionaries fall subject to this regulation.

Jeonju-based PNB Bakery released a vegan version of its flagship choco pies that doesn’t use eggs, while confectionary producer Binggrae launched a plant-based version of its Melona ice cream bar in Europe last year. Dairy company Maeil Dairies highlighted its patented oat milk-processing technology with its Amazing Oat drinks at SIAL.

Visitors at SIAL Paris taste Pulmuone's products at the plant-based foods company's booth at SIAL Paris. [PULMUONE]

Plant-based food company Pulmuone, known domestically for its legume products such as tofu and bean sprouts, presented over 50 of their products targeting the European market at its booth in the K-Food Leaders Pavilion corner at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center.

Six Pulmuone products, including its Tofu Tenders, Soymilk Noodles and gimbap (seaweed rice rolls) made with land-farmed seaweed and soft tofu tortillas were selected by a SIAL Innovation jury that highlights and awards innovative and creative products.

Many of the featured products, apart from also being plant-based, are also notably easy to cook, providing a fast-food alternative for health-conscious or vegetarian consumers. The Soymilk Noodles, apart from a version with mala soup broth, do not require heating up or washing, while other products in Pulmuone’s portfolio include tofu bars and ready-to-eat saucy minced tofu.

Ourhome's upcycled cabbage leaf kimchi won SIAL's Ready Meals/Catering Award. [OURHOME]

Ready-made-meal manufacturer Ourhome, meanwhile, won SIAL’s Ready Meals/Catering Award for its upcycled cabbage leaf kimchi, which uses the outer green cabbage leaf that is usually discarded, the only Korean brand to be awarded a prize by SIAL Innovation.

The participating companies plan to use SIAL to leverage their presence in the European market.

Pulmuone said in a news release that it will establish a European subsidiary that will directly communicate with local buyers and consumers next year to further expand its global business footprint.

Binggrae said it would expand its plant-based ice cream products in Europe by developing flavors preferred by the local market and secure more retail channels.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]