Asian grocery stores like H Mart (Han Ah Rum Mart) in the United States are no longer just niche markets or small-scale businesses; they have become a cultural phenomenon. Initially catering to immigrants seeking Asian foods, these stores have gained popularity among locals and have expanded significantly across the country.
According to the New York Times, H Mart, which started as a small Korean supermarket in Woodside, Queens in 1982, has now grown into a large grocery chain with over 90 stores across the U.S. Similarly, Patel Brothers, an Indian grocery store that opened its first store in Chicago, and 99 Ranch Market, a Chinese grocery store based in California, have also evolved from neighborhood supermarkets for immigrants into major retail chains.
These grocery stores began selling native foods and ingredients to the rapidly growing Asian immigrant communities in the 1970s and 1980s, becoming essential hubs for these communities. However, they have since transformed into modern retail chains with stores nationwide and mobile ordering apps.
The New York Times attributes this growth to the increasing Asian population in the U.S. and the rising interest among non-Asian Americans in new flavors like those found in Shin Ramyun. H Mart, for example, is valued at $2 billion and recently purchased a shopping center in San Francisco for $37 million.
Patel Brothers has 52 stores in 20 states and plans to open six more within two years. 99 Ranch Market currently operates 62 stores in 11 states. The online Asian grocery store Weee! is valued at $4.1 billion. Although Asian supermarkets still account for less than 1% of the U.S. food distribution market, their actual impact is much greater, according to Dymfke Kuijpers, a partner at McKinsey.
Asian food, including Korean cuisine, has seen explosive popularity in the U.S., influencing major retail chains like Walmart to expand their product offerings. According to market research firm Circana, sales in the “Asian/Traditional Foods” sections of U.S. supermarkets have quadrupled from April last year to April this year.
As the popularity of Asian food rises in the mainstream U.S. market, Asian grocery chains like H Mart are serving as bridges, introducing Asian food to non-Asian Americans. Kevin Chang, Marketing Director at Nongshim America, stated, “Without Asian grocery stores, it would be very difficult to enter the mainstream U.S. market.”
