Sesame oil and perilla oil are essential food ingredients in Korea. They are versatile with a nice aroma, so they go well with any dish. Recently, sesame oil and perilla oil have been known to contain a large amount of healthy nutrients such as omega-3s, thereby drawing attention even overseas. CHAMGOEUL CO., LTD. played a big role in their gaining popularity. CHAMGOEUL is promoting the taste of Korea by producing sesame oil and perilla oil through a low-temperature pressing method.

#Oil Market, ‘Favorable’ due to Food Service Industry
CHAMGOEUL, located in Gimje, Jeollabuk-do, is a company which is well known overseas as much as in Korea. It is taking the lead in promoting the charm of sesame oil and perilla oil to foreigners, and has recorded the largest export volume among Korean companies. It is particularly encouraging that 30% of the total exports are sold to locals.
CHAMGOEUL is on a roll, but it wasn’t easy from the start. It is because, in Korea in 2000, when it was established, it was more common to press sesame oil or perilla oil directly at mills that could be found all over the country than to purchase them. It turned out favorable with the development of the food service industry in Korea. The company continued to grow gradually as such markets as the institutional food service market thrived. In addition, Japanese buyers showed interest in the products of CHAMGOEUL after tasting samples at a food fair, and the company was able to obtain overseas sales channels. 

#It’s better because it is made at low temperatures
The biggest characteristic of CHAMGOEUL’s sesame oil and perilla oil products is that they are produced through a ‘low-temperature pressing method’. In Korea, sesame oil and perilla oil had been generally roasted at high temperatures close to 200˚C and squeezed out with a press. However, CHAMGOEUL extracts oil by pressing raw materials at low temperature. This method of oil extraction at low temperature creates a nice aroma, and allows a longer shelf life than the existing method owing to reduced contact between raw materials and oxygen. CEO Kim Yun-kwon explained that such a method is particularly good for retaining the intrinsic nutrients such as omega-3s contained in sesame oil and perilla oil.
 

CEO Kim Yun-kwon explained, “For sesame oil and perilla oil, the key is that they’re high in omega-3 and that they have a nutty taste. An additional function is frying. Just as cold brew coffee tastes mild and savory, it’s better in every aspect to make oil with the low-temperature pressing method. It also has the advantage of retaining the nutritious ingredients in sesame oil.” 

#Going Global market
Currently, CHAMGOEUL exports its products to more than 20 countries, including the United States, China, Japan, and Thailand. Although the main market is the United States, the company is not heavily dependent on exports to any specific country, and continues to maintain stable markets with an increase in sales growth. Sales in 2001 amounted to about USD 1.78 million, and as it continued to grow every year, sales reached about USD 93.23 million last year. This year, despite difficult distribution and production related circumstances, the company is expected to achieve about USD 110.2 million in sales. In addition to its core products, sesame oil and perilla oil, another line of products produced by CHAMGOEUL, which is Korean fermented sauce, has become immensely popular overseas. CHAMGOEUL explains that most Korean restaurants in Thailand use CHAMGOEUL’s Gochujang (red chili paste) products, and that the company sold its Gochujang products on the home shopping network in India with the help of the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation (aT).
With the recent increased interest overseas in Seasoned Bean Paste products, the company is stepping up the development of products containing nuts. Also, health functional oils are on the brink of being produced on a commercial scale.
CEO Kim Yun-kwon said, “We plan to sell raw sesame oil and walnut oil so that we can penetrate the market for olive oil. We will continue to make efforts to promote Korean oil and other food ingredients overseas.”

CHAMGOEUL CO., LTD.
Tel: +82-63-547-6941
E-mail: nanumi99@gmail.com