Nongshim

Nongshim Co., Ltd.
Native name
주식회사 농심
Jusik Hoesa Nongsim
FormerlyLotte Food Industrial Company (1965–1978)
Company typePublic
KRX: 004370
IndustryFood processing
Founded18 September 1965; 59 years ago (1965-09-18)
FounderShin Choon-ho[1]
Headquarters112 Yeouidaebang-ro, Dongjak-gu,
Seoul
,
South Korea
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Shin Dong-won (Chairman and CEO)
Products
  • Shin Ramyun
  • Shin Ramyun Black
  • Neoguri
  • Soon Noodle
  • Jjawang
  • Matchampong
  • Shrimp Crackers
  • Onion Rings
  • Baeksan Mountain Water
RevenueIncrease ₩2,181.62 billion
US$1.83 billion (2015)
Increase ₩118.28 billion
US$99.3 million (2015)
Increase ₩117.33 billion
US$98.5 million (2015)
Total assetsIncrease ₩2,418.71 billion
US$2.03 billion (2015)
Total equityIncrease ₩1,646.47 billion
US$1.38 billion (2015)
ParentNongshim Holdings
Websiteeng.nongshim.com
Footnotes / references
[2][3]

Nongshim Co., Ltd. (Korean: 농심; Hanja: 農心; RR: Nongsim; lit. Farmer's Heart) is a South Korean multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Nongshim was founded in 1965 under the name Lotte Food Industrial Company. The name was changed to Nongshim in 1978.[4]

The current logo was published in 1991, and is meant to resemble a seed.[5] In 2003, the business switched to a holding company system and became a subsidiary of Nongshim Holdings.

Nongshim is the largest instant noodles and snack company in South Korea. At the end of 2015, Nongshim had 2.57 trillion won in assets and 2.81 trillion won in sales.[6] It runs 11 factories worldwide, has subsidiaries in Korea[7][8] and overseas, and operates in more than 100 countries. The company is currently chaired by Shin Dong-won, son of the founder Shin Choon-ho.

History

[edit]

1965–1979

[edit]

On 18 September 1965, Nongshim was established under the name Lotte Food Industrial Company in Seoul, South Korea by Shin Choon-ho, brother of Lotte Corporation founder Shin Kyuk-ho.[9] When Nongshim introduced its first ramyun, Lotte Ramyun (롯데 라면) in 1965, there were 7 other companies in the market.[4][10]

As a second mover in the ramyun industry, Nongshim focused on research and development. Along with South Korea's first commercialized packaged snack, Beef Ramyun (소고기 라면) in 1970, Saeukkang (새우깡) in 1971, and Nongshim Ramyun (농심라면) in 1975, Nongshim achieved a 35% market share in the mid-1970s. On 6 March 1978, Nongshim changed its name from Lotte Food Industrial Company to Nongshim Co., Ltd.[10]

1980–1989

[edit]

During the 1980s, Nongshim invested highly on machinery, equipment, and systems. The Anseong factory was built in 1981 to specialize in powder soup, used to flavor the ramyun.

Many of Nongshim's famous ramyun products were introduced during the 1980s: Neoguri (너구리) in 1982, Ansungtangmyun (안성탕면) in 1983, Chapagetti (짜파게티) in 1984, and Shin Ramyun (신라면) in 1986. Cup and bowl-type instant noodles were also introduced during this period.

Nongshim's market share reached 40% in 1984, and became a leading company of the market in March 1985. With Shin Ramyun (1986), the most beloved instant noodle brand in South Korea, Nongshim reached 46.2% of the ramyun market share in 1987, 53.2% in 1988, and 58% in 1989.[11]

1990–present

[edit]

On 1 January 1991, Nongshim introduced its new corporate identity (CI): Nongshim Seed.[12] The Gumi factory was built in September 1991. Since 1994, Nongshim has used computer-integrated manufacturing for production.

The Asan factory was built in April 1993, and it specializes in potato and rice snacks. In April 1994, Nongshim introduced aseptic production system for cold noodles. In 2007, The Noksan factory was built to specialize in non-frying noodles and well-being (health) products.

During the 1990s, Nongshim focused on exporting and expanded their business in the global market.[13] In July 1997, Nongshim began sponsoring the national Baduk (Go) Championship: Shin Ramyun Cup Baduk Championship.[14]

Nongshim built factories in China in the late 1990s and early 2000s: Shanghai (1996), Qingdao (1998), Shenyang (2000), a second factory at Qingdao (2002), and Yanbian (2015). In the U.S, Nongshim built a factory in Los Angeles in 2005.[15]In 2008, the first ‘Coco Ichibanya’ Japanese curry specialty restaurant opened in Seoul’s Gangnam district. In 2009, Korea’s first ‘Food Culture Specialized Library’ was established. In 2012, the distribution rights for Jeju Samdasoo were transferred to Kwangdong Pharmaceutical, while a new bottled water brand, Baeksansu, was introduced. In 2022, the hotel room operations of Hotel Nongshim were acquired.

In 2022, the Gumi Ramen Camping Festival was held but was not successful. However, it was rebranded as the Gumi Ramen Festival in 2023 and ended successfully.

Advertising

[edit]

Nongshim has been carrying out marketing and advertising that focuses on the characteristics of individual products rather than on the corporate brand as a whole. Company chairman Shin Chun-ho is quoted as saying "Advertisements should not be prioritized over quality products".[16]

Operation

[edit]

Affiliates

[edit]

Nongshim has 10 affiliates: Nongshim Holdings, Taekyung Nongsan, Youlchon Chemistry, Mega Mart, Nongshim Communication, NDS (Nongshim Data System), Nongshim Engineering, Youlchol Foundation, Hotel Nongshim, and Nongshim Development.[17]

Global operations

[edit]

Nongshim's headquarters is located in Seoul, South Korea. Nongshim products are now exported to over 100 countries around the world.[18] As of 2016, Nongshim has 11 manufacturing plants around the world: Korea (Anyang, Ansung, Asan, Gumi, Busan, Noksan), United States (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), China (Shanghai, Qingdao, Shenyang, Yanbian).[19][20] There are 7 sales distribution offices in 6 countries outside of South Korea: the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, China and Vietnam.

Logo Evolution

[edit]
  • 1991–present
    1991–present

Products

[edit]

Nongshim products include instant noodles, packaged snacks, and bottled water. There are more than 40 brands of ramyuns, produced by Nongshim, including South Korea's most popular ramyun brand, Shin Ramyun.[21] in 2015 Nongshim introduced new noodle brands: Zha Wang (짜왕) and Mat Champong (맛짬뽕). Zha Wang is formed of a portmanteau of Jjajangmyun (짜장면) and wang (왕), which means "King" (the company romanized 짜 as "Zha" on export product packaging, as opposed to the more standard romanization of "jja"). Mat Champong on the other hand is a portmanteau of the Korean noun mat (맛) meaning "taste" and Champong, although export packaging for the product romanizes the name as merely "Champong" with no "mat".[22][23]

They also produce other varieties of snacks including Saeukkang[24] the first commercialized snack in South Korea and Onion Rings (양파링; Yangpa Ring), which are famous for their sliced-onion-ring shape.

Since 2012, Nongshim has been producing its own bottled water called Baeksan Mountain Water,[25] which is slowly filtered by Baekdu Mountain volcanic rock.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "South Korea's late ramyeon king leaves a spicy legacy". 3 April 2021. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Nongshim USA :: Our Products". Nongshim. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Nongshim Co Ltd (004370:Korea SE)". businessweek.wallst.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b "너구리·신라면…'농심' 보듬은 신춘호 회장의 경영철학". 미디어펜 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  5. ^ "농심". www.nongshim.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  6. ^ "농심, 2015년 영업익 1182억… 전년比 61%↑" (in Korean). Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  7. ^ "농심". www.nongshim.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  8. ^ "농심". www.nongshim.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Family, business community mourn late Nongshim Group chairman". The Korea Herald. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  10. ^ a b "농심". www.nongshim.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  11. ^ "1969년 삼양 점유율 83%·2012년 농심 67%…영원한 승자는 없다". superich.heraldcorp.com. 11 January 2013. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  12. ^ "GLOBAL NONGSHIM". eng.nongshim.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  13. ^ "Nongshim to boost global expansion". The Korea Times. 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  14. ^ "[神의 한 수]'아시아 바둑 올림픽' 인기 힘입어 신라면 중국 매출 급성장". The Dong-A Ilbo. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  15. ^ "농심". www.nongshim.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  16. ^ "사나이 울리는 辛라면에서 세계인 울리는 SHIN RAMYUN으로". shindonga.donga.com (in Korean). 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  17. ^ "GLOBAL NONGSHIM". eng.nongshim.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  18. ^ "Nongshim to boost global expansion". The Korea Times. 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  19. ^ "GLOBAL NONGSHIM". eng.nongshim.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  20. ^ "South Korean Food Manufacturer Nongshim Opens Bottled Water Plant In China With Targeted Sales Of 237.6 Million Dollars In 2017". koreaportal. 9 November 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  21. ^ "Record-breaking noodles". 16 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  22. ^ "Competition intensifies over premium instant noodles". The Korea Herald. 17 March 2016. Archived from the original on 21 February 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  23. ^ "Nongshim launches 'Jjawang' noodles". The Korea Herald. 27 April 2015. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  24. ^ "Big milestone for diminutive snack". 19 May 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  25. ^ "Bottled water competition heats up". The Korea Times. 27 June 2014. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nongshim.
  • Official website (in English)
  • Business data for Nongshim:
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nongshim&oldid=1257307956#Nongshim_Group"