Major Korean food companies have secured spots on Interbrand's "2026 Best Korea Brands," demonstrating the brand competitiveness of K-Food, as Interbrand is the world's largest brand consulting group.
According to the "2026 Best Korea Brands" released by Interbrand Monday, CJ CheilJedang ranked 22nd overall with a brand value of 1.1866 trillion won. This maintained the same ranking as last year, the highest evaluation among fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. The company has been included on the list for 14 consecutive years since Interbrand began announcing Korea's top 50 brands in 2013, continuing its steady brand power.
In the food industry, beyond CJ CheilJedang, Samyang Foods, Orion, and Dongwon Group also entered the top 50. Samyang Foods, which has been leading the recent K-Food boom, ranked 46th with a brand value of 452.6 billion won, up one spot from last year. Its brand value also increased 8.6 percent from the previous year, the highest growth rate among major brands in the FMCG sector.
Orion ranked 47th with a brand value of 418.3 billion won. Since first entering the rankings in 2023, the company has held a spot among the top 50 brands for four consecutive years, maintaining stable brand competitiveness.
Dongwon Group was valued at 385.6 billion won, entering the top 50 for the first time this year. The company is seen as having raised its presence by joining the rankings most recently among Korea's leading food companies.
The industry believes that as the global popularity of K-Food rises, the brand values of Korean food companies are increasing in tandem. In particular, food companies achieving results in overseas markets are expanding their brand influence while also broadening their standing in Korea's top brand rankings.
