Korea’s leading plastic container maker signs MOU with Japan’s top kitchenware firm


Korea’s leading plastic container producer Lock & Lock signed a memorandum of understanding on mutual cooperation Tuesday with Japan’s kitchenware maker Endo Manufacturing.

Lock & Lock aims to become a global kitchenware company through the partnership with the biggest kitchenware company in Japan, which produces over 80,000 types of kitchenware for hotels, restaurants and cafes.

The company, which has concentrated on making plastic airtight containers since its establishment in 1978, recently revealed its aim to expand its main products to comprehensive kitchenware using diverse raw materials including glass, porcelain and stainless steel.

“We expect that Endo Manufacturing will be able to provide us with expertise to cope with the possible obstacles we might face as we advance into the new market. We also hope our products will be introduced to Japanese consumers through Endo Manufacturing,” said Lock & Lock chairman and CEO Kim Joon-il at the press conference held at Westin Chosun Hotel in central Seoul. 

Endo Manufacturing was established in 1951. Its catalog “Total Kitchen Goods,” which is published every three years, is considered to be the encyclopedia of kitchenware in Japan.

“We have been doing business within the market in Japan so we do not have much expertise or information about overseas markets,” said Endo Masaki, chairman of Endo Manufacturing. “We are hoping that Lock & Lock will open up the market for us overseas, including in Southeast Asia.”

Lock & Lock plans to diversify its business realm, especially into the business-to-business market by expanding its product range for “Horeca,” a term used in the industry for hotels, restaurants and cafes.

The company opened a total catering goods online shopping mall (www.okhoreca.com) in February and also an 820-square-meter mall in Lotte Mart in Incheon.

It currently exports products to 113 countries and plans to focus more on the Southeast Asian market including China, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia. It runs three factories in China and one in Vietnam.

“We are certain that this will be a competitive business because the ‘horeca’ market is expanding; more are eating out, not only in Korea but also in Southeast Asian countries and the tourism industry is growing. Through the MOU, we will keep a strong stance in the market and takeoff as a global kitchenware company by 2020,” said Kim.

By Park Min-young  (claire@heraldcorp.com)