This success story comes from providing the following services: Finding Business Partners in South Korea
In partnership with Business Finland and Business Sweden, KOISRA supported a trade promotion program for 9 selected Nordic food and beverage producers in Seoul. Hosted at Lotte Hotel Seoul on 5 September 2025, the program aimed to connect Nordic companies with qualified Korean importers and distributors and to accelerate practical market exploration.
TARGET – FACILITATING CONNECTIONS WITH KOREAN F&B IMPORTERS
Arrange high-quality B2B meetings that matched each Nordic company’s category, positioning, and channel goals with relevant Korean buyers—enabling participants to validate market fit and explore distribution opportunities in South Korea.
CHALLENGE – A COMPETITIVE, STANDARD-DRIVEN KOREAN MARKET
Korea’s F&B market is selective and compliance-oriented, with limited shelf space, strong incumbent brands, and rigorous expectations regarding labeling, continuity of supply, and certifications. Success requires precise importer targeting and clear category alignment.
WORK PROCEDURE – RESEARCH, MATCHMAKING, AND SCHEDULING
KOISRA implemented a structured approach to ensure the trade mission's success:
- Step 1: Participant & Product Study
KOISRA conducted review of each participant’s materials to understand product lines, certifications, pricing tiers, brand positioning, preferred routes-to-market (retail, HORECA, e-commerce), and partner profiles sought in Korea. - Step 2: Market Research & Importer Identification
We scanned the Korean market to map relevant importers and distributors by category fit, channel coverage, portfolio complementarity, and logistics capability. Shortlists of potential buyers were compiled for each participant. - Step 3: Outreach & Buyer Validation
KOISRA introduced the program to shortlisted Korean buyers, confirmed interest, and validated commercial fit (portfolio gaps, channel strategy, operational readiness) to ensure meetings were purposeful and actionable. - Step 4: Meeting Setup & On-Site Coordination
We built individualized B2B schedules and coordinated time slots with hosts and participants. On the event day, KOISRA managed the meeting flow to keep sessions on time and maximize productivity.
OUTCOME – 60+ TAILORED B2B MEETINGS AND PROMISING LEADS
The Nordic F&B Day Trade Promotion event achieved significant success:
Per-Company Cadence: KOISRA pre-arranged over six one-on-one meetings per company, ensuring targeted, high-value interactions.
Total Engagement: In aggregate, this amounted to more than 60 meetings with vetted Korean importers and distributors.
Qualified Buyer Participation: Leading buyers attended with pre-qualified interest, enabling substantive discussions and clear next steps as determined by the parties.
Actionable Market Insight: Participants gained practical understanding of buyer expectations, pricing considerations, and documentation requirements to refine Korea entry strategies.
