South Korea comes to Delaware

Governor Jack Markell officially welcomed the Chairman of South Korean poultry operation, Harim Group, to Delaware.

Chairman Hong Kuk Kim, and his associates, recently placed the winning bid to purchase the 92-year-old family-owned Delaware company, Allen Family Food.

 

“We’re very pleased to welcome Chairman Kim and his team to Delaware,” said Governor Markell. “We’re especially pleased that they are planning to maintain the operations at Harbeson.”

“Meeting with the Governor provided a very good first impression of the State of Delaware,” said Chairman Kim.

During the meeting in Governor Markell’s office in Dover, Chairman Kim discussed Harim Group’s preliminary plan for the Delaware operation which includes:

Operating the existing Harbeson, Delaware plant, utilizing many current Allen employees and contract growers.
Expanding product offerings to include value-added products that consumers in the U. S. and Asia will welcome to their tables.
Reaching out to the existing customer base to establish strong ties and a cooperative working relationship.
Recruiting new customers through strong and efficient operations in new areas that will produce more economic activity and jobs on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Building on the years of good-will and community service that exemplified Allen Family Foods.

The state says total Delaware exports to Korea grew from $105 million in 2009 to $119 million in 2010, with figures projecting even more growth in 2011. The Governor believes this new partnership could lead to significantly more opportunities in the Korean market, and other parts of Asia, where Harim has experience operating.

The sale of Allen Family Food to Harim is expected to be finalized on August 17, 2011.