Youn Young-mi, CEO of Highland Foods Co., Ltd., Awarded ‘Korea CEO Hall of Fame’ in Global Category for Fourth Consecutive Year
Youn Young-mi (pictured), CEO of Highland Foods Co., Ltd., has been honored with the prestigious 'Korea CEO Hall of Fame' award in the Global category for the fourth consecutive year. This award is organized by the Institute for Industrial Policy Studies under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy. Founded in 1999, Highland Foods, a global meat food company, has spent the past 25 years building a stable supply chain through direct sourcing from over 50 meat producers across 15 countries. Driven by the goal of “making quality meat accessible to everyone at reasonable prices,” the company also contributes to Korea's food security and price stability. Highland Foods has established overseas production bases by setting up subsidiaries in the U.S.. The company has also founded Highland Innovation Co., Ltd., a subsidiary focused on meat processing, with production facilities in Busan and Icheon. The company strives to build an integrated cold chain system, covering everything from import to manufacturing and distribution. Since its inception in 1999, the company has steadily grown, achieving total group sales of approximately USD 830 million as of 2023. Over the past five years, Highland Foods has recorded a remarkable 19% annual sales growth rate, earning it a spot on the Financial Times' list of the 'Asia-Pacific High-Growth Companies 500' for five consecutive years (2020-2024). Additionally, Highland Foods participated in the 2024 Korea Import Fair, where it collaborated with prominent overseas partners to expand the supply of high-quality meat. Notable global partners attending the event included Kilcoy Global Foods, a leading Australian beef producer, HyLife Foods from Canada specializing in pork, and Lar from Brazil, a major poultry producer. At the exhibition, Highland Foods showcased innovative B2B marketing strategies, including OEM and ODM programs for domestic food companies. The company also unveiled its private meat processing brand, "Natural Farmers," and launched the online meat shopping mall "Wellbon Market," further solidifying its global reputation. Moreover, on the 20th of last month, CEO Youn accompanied President Yoon Suk-yeol on a diplomatic visit to the Czech Republic as part of a 'trade delegation.' She participated in the Korea-Czech Business Partnership event, discussing ways to expand trade between Korean and Czech companies and spearheaded the signing of a trade MOU between the Korea Importers Association and the Czech government, focusing on stabilizing global supply chain networks. In addition, in 2021, CEO Youn established the Highland Future Foundation to fulfill the company's ESG responsibilities, leading efforts in philanthropy and talent development, including the 'Future Dream Scholarship Program' aimed at supporting underprivileged communities. 박원중 기자 (park.wonjun.ja@gmail.com)highland category highland foods years highland highland innovation
