On February 24, the Investment and Trade Office of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US and the Taiwanese Junior Chamber of Commerce of New York (TJCCN) held a Taiwan Cuisine Innovation and Experience Workshop where Taiwanese food company entrepreneurs with operations in the US discussed their success.
Taiwan hand-mixed drink brand Coco currently has 20 branch outlets in New York. Company President Sam Lin encourages younger Taiwanese entrepreneurs to seek success overseas and live the American dream. Lin said: "The US market is large, but a lack of familiarity with local laws, a lack of courage or other reasons means that everyone goes to China. In fact, there are many business opportunities in the US and not so many strong brands here, making it an excellent opportunity to develop."
Kimlan Foods Co., Ltd. (Kimlan Soy Sauce) is a 1980s brand from Taiwan that has sold its products in the US for 30 years. Company General Manager Michael Liu believes US operations can be further developed and reiterates that the US market is huge. Indeed, over the past few years more and more Chinese people have settled in the country, representing a large market in their own right. What we first need to do is take time to understand the nature of this market and conduct market research. After such preparations, it is possible to develop operations in the US, he said.
This Taiwan Cuisine Innovation and Experience Workshop was held to promote exchange between Taiwanese businesspeople and encourage more Taiwan food enterprises to enter the US market.