Why more K-food brands need 'OU' for global markets

Companies seeking to expand into global markets like North America and Europe should consider applying for OU certification, a kosher label approved by the Orthodox Union, according to an associate of the oldest Orthodox Jewish organization in the United States. Steve Hong, certification sales agent for the New York City-based group operating OU Kosher worldwide, said that to get mainstream distribution in the U.S., Canada and Europe, Korean food firms should seek to certify their products with OU, the most widespread kosher certification label in those regions. He said over 1.3 million kosher products manufactured at 15,000 plants in 105 countries have been certified with OU. That is over 70 percent of all kosher products being distributed worldwide. Hong said the majority of kosher food products at Costco and Walmart stores in the U.S. are OU-labeled. According to OU Kosher, 71 percent of kosher products at 190 Ralph’s Supermarkets stores in California and 66 percent of kosher products at Stop & Shop stores in the northeastern U.S. have been certified by OU Kosher, while the remaind