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Interview with CEO of Salad Panda Reveals Recipe for Success in Increasing Gross sales and Diversifying Portfolio

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Got here in2024.05.25 08:25
Edit2024.05.25 08:25

Interview with Seonghak Kim, CEO of Saladpanda

After opening Curly, gross sales elevated 6 instances and the variety of workers elevated 30 instances.
Improve transaction effectivity and guarantee profitability… Portfolio diversification
Differentiation with ‘bottle salad’… High quality can be additional improved

Kim Seong-hak, CEO of Salad Panda. Picture = Offered by Salad Panda Salad Panda is an everyday salad supply model that entered the early morning supply e-commerce firm Curly in November 2017. We joined Curly as a result of the demand for salads, that are delicate to freshness, is growing in Korea. It is because a brand new distribution system must be used. After opening Curly, a steady channel was secured, and Salad Panda grew quickly. On the finish of final yr, Salad Panda’s gross sales elevated about sixfold since Curly’s opened.

Kim Seong-hak, CEO of Salad Panda (pictured), says the corporate really began and grew with Curly. Simply two months earlier than opening at Curly, salads have been bought by merchandising machines. CEO Kim mentioned, “I used to be impressed by seeing a salad merchandising machine whereas dwelling overseas,” and added, “It was a time when foreigners’ curiosity in wholesome meals was growing and the marketplace for handy salads was rising. ” CEO Kim joined the enterprise with the expectation that Korea would observe these market modifications. Nonetheless, gross sales have been slower than anticipated when coming into the salad market. Because of lack of expertise, systematic supply administration was tough. CEO Kim mentioned, “On the time, we bought it by some division retailer channels besides our on-line middle, however we skilled limitations in development as a result of lack of a steady gross sales channel.” He added, “The variety of salad rivals with low boundaries to entry elevated as we entered the market.”

Salads, that are delicate to freshness, additionally face limitations as a result of their worth as a product decreases quickly inside a couple of days of being made. Even when manufacturing elevated, funding prices solely elevated in a state of affairs the place demand didn’t catch up. CEO Kim defined, “Perishable meals are often tougher to maintain in inventory than common industrial merchandise,” and added, “Cully, which I found whereas searching for new enterprise companions with these considerations, grew to become a breakthrough. ”

Introducing new merchandise to Curly is alleged to be tough at first. It is because Curly has detailed entry situations. CEO Kim mentioned, “In contrast to different on-line gross sales channels, Curly selects and shops merchandise, which brings profitability advantages to suppliers,” including, “As a result of it controls the variety of merchandise and types by strict screening for entry to shops, it’s inevitable that different gross sales channels “We now have a construction that enables the gross sales quantity to extend at a comparatively excessive price and the variety of models bought per product to extend.” From the provider’s viewpoint, it’s defined that it will increase the effectivity of transactions and helps guarantee profitability. CEO Kim mentioned, “Different channels look primarily at style and value competitiveness, however Curly evaluates surprising issues even by a number of phases of self-evaluation,” from the minimize dimension of salad greens to the origin of uncooked supplies and levels of baking “. We completely consider high quality from the buyer’s viewpoint,” he mentioned.

“This strict technique of going into the shop is after all a aggressive benefit for Curly, but it surely additionally provides nice suggestions to suppliers because it provides them the chance to enrich and develop their product. It’s a good construction the place each side can win-win. “laughter).”

After Curly opened, it was actually a ‘massive hit’. Due to elevated manufacturing and gross sales, publicity to the model naturally elevated. Prospects have been additionally in a position to diversify, and gross sales at his personal middle elevated, in addition to alternatives to enter giant distribution networks similar to malls. CEO Kim mentioned, “We have been in a position to promote the corporate to giant and small firms with out spending advertising and marketing prices. Due to this, the variety of workers elevated dozens of instances in comparison with the start, leading to exceptional development.” “It is extremely tough to introduce a brand new product to Curly step one ourselves with ‘bottle salad.’ CEO Kim mentioned, “Different firms’ salads are sometimes served in sq. trays or flat shapes, however the benefit of the Panda Salad bottle is that it’s moveable and simple to style.” The reason was that particular consideration was given to creating the container to extend freshness. He mentioned, “We launched salad packs that do not fade even when put in an on-the-go bag with a extremely moveable bottle pack,” and added, “We have created a consumer-centric product line with a various product portfolio starting from a lightweight breakfast to a hearty lunch.”

Presently, Salad Panda is working laborious not solely to diversify its product portfolio but in addition to supply customers with wholesome salads tailor-made to client traits. With many rivals coming into the salad market, they’re additionally specializing in making a wholesome ‘salad-like’ style. He mentioned, “For dressings, we primarily use balsamic (particular fermentation) and lemon dressings, that are much less irritating than different dressings We now have an idea of emphasizing the pure style of greens, so we wish to use much less irritating elements. ” We intend to broaden our goal group of girls of their 20s and 30s, who eat lots of salad. CEO Kim predicted, “Salad itself is a development trade, and the pattern of individuals searching for wholesome meals will improve.”

“As you possibly can see from our model title ‘Salad Panda,’ our goal is to develop into a model that many individuals know and love within the salad class by channel known as Curly suppose once you consider a salad.”

Kim Se-rin, Hankyung.com reporter celine@hankyung.com

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