“Making kimbap and lunch boxes with Jeonnam-Gwangju rice” ... GS25 agrees to source 12,000 tons

[Financial News] GS25 is working to establish a convenience-food supply chain using rice from the Jeonnam-Gwangju region. Next year, it will receive about 12,000 tons of rice for use in kimbap and lunch boxes, and expand product development using local agricultural produce.
According to industry sources on the 27th, GS Retail held a sign unveiling ceremony for the “GS25-designated Rice Processing Center” the previous day at Suncheon Rice Processing Center in Suncheon City, Jeonnam-Gwangju, and signed an agreement with Nonghyup Distribution and the Jeongnamjin, Suncheon and Hwasan Rice Processing Centers to supply and sell domestic rice for convenience foods (FF) in 2027.
The event follows the “Saechungmu Rice Supply MOU” signed by GS Retail and South Jeolla Province last November. GS Retail will handle the promotion and expanded sales of rice from Jeonnam-Gwangju, while Nonghyup Distribution will support agricultural production and the establishment of a supply system.
GS Retail and local rice processing centers will also jointly develop new products using agricultural produce from Jeonnam-Gwangju. In particular, they have agreed to supply and sell about 12,000 tons of rice for use in GS25 kimbap and lunch boxes in 2027, establishing a stable procurement base for domestic rice, the companies said.
GS25 plans to display a “100% Domestic Nonghyup Rice” mark on products made with rice from Jeonnam-Gwangju, so consumers can check whether domestic rice is used.
Attendees at the sign unveiling ceremony included Lee Gi-cheol, head of GS Retail’s Convenience Food Merchandising (MD) Division; Park Jin-seok, executive director of Nonghyup Distribution; Kim Yong-gyeong, CEO of Jeongnamjin Integrated RPC; Seo Man-won, standing director of Suncheon Nonghyup; Lee Hyo-sang, head of Haenam Hwasan Nonghyup; and Sang-Mi Park, director of the K-Food Distribution Division of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City.
Lee Gi-cheol, head of GS Retail’s Convenience Food MD Division, said, “Operating GS25-designated Rice Processing Centers has laid the groundwork for a stable supply of high-quality rice from the Jeonnam-Gwangju region. We will continue to strengthen cooperation with local farms and relevant organizations.”
[email protected] Kim Hyun-ji Reporter