Korea’s poultry leader looks beyond chicken to expand into global food market
IKSAN, South Jeolla Province — Harim Group, Korea’s 30th-largest conglomerate by assets, is recognized as a leader in poultry processing and distribution. The company is now strategically expanding its business to become a global food and agribusiness company, with a strong emphasis on premium ready-to-eat (RTE) meals.
The Korea Herald recently visited Harim’s First Kitchen, a state-of-the-art food manufacturing complex in Iksan, a 520 billion won ($347 million) investment, on Friday, offering insights into their innovative processes.
The facility, operated by Harim Industrial, encompasses four key buildings: K1, the central kitchen producing a diverse range of home-style RTE meals, side dishes, frozen foods, and seasonings; K2, the rice kitchen dedicated to producing high-quality microwavable rice; K3, the ramyeon kitchen where instant noodles are crafted; and a sophisticated logistics system known as Fulfillment By Harim, or FBH, ensuring efficient distribution.
Guided by the core principle, “Only the freshest ingredients in, only the best flavors out,” the tour commenced at the K3 building, where the company showcased its unique approach to producing instant noodles.
A Harim official explained the company’s proprietary Z-nozzle drying system, engineered to deliver an enhanced noodle texture. In contrast to traditional non-frying methods that apply heat solely from above, the Z-nozzle system employs hot air blasted from both the top and bottom, resulting in more consistent and even drying throughout.
“Since our entry into the non-frying noodle segment, other companies have followed suit,” the official stated. “However, the Z-nozzle system provides our noodles with a uniquely superior texture, setting us apart.”
He further elaborated that The Mishik — Harim’s premium home meal replacement brand — is built on the commitment to delivering exceptional taste and a superior culinary experience.
Within the K2 rice kitchen, a rigorously controlled clean room environment minimizes dust particle contamination, ensuring the highest standards of product quality. Harim’s microwavable rice products contain only two ingredients: rice and water. They are produced without preservatives or acidity regulators, yet boast an impressive shelf life of approximately 10 months.
“When preparing rice at home, no additional ingredients are added,” the official noted. “Our goal is to replicate that authentic, pure rice experience for consumers.”
The K1 building, dedicated to HMRs (Home Meal Replacements), frozen foods, and seasonings, houses large simmering containers where broth is expertly crafted from beef bones, chicken, and an array of fresh vegetables. In adjacent areas, onions, meats, and various vegetables are carefully combined to create flavorful dumpling fillings.
Harim has introduced approximately 110 products under The Mishik brand, including a diverse selection of dumplings, fried rice, corn dogs, soups, and side dishes, catering to a wide range of consumer preferences.
Recognizing that achieving deeper, more complex flavors necessitates higher production costs, the company emphasizes that its primary focus remains on delivering a genuine, home-cooked culinary experience utilizing the freshest, highest-quality ingredients available.
Harim Industrial reported revenue of 109.3 billion won last year, reflecting a substantial 36 percent year-on-year increase. However, the company also reported an operating loss of 146.6 billion won, which was wider than the previous year. Despite these continued losses, Harim remains firmly committed to its overarching objective of transforming The Mishik into a 1.5 trillion won brand, a vision initially unveiled at its launch in October 2021.
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