Orion is on the verge of breaking 1 trillion won in annual sales from potato snacks. The combined annual potato consumption in Korea, China, and Vietnam alone reaches 230,000 tons. Orion's strategy focused on raw materials is bearing fruit, earning evaluations that it has leaped beyond a confectionery company to become a representative 'potato seed company' of the nation.
According to industry sources on the 26th, Orion's total potato snack sales last year were estimated at 874 billion won (with overseas sales accounting for 73%). The potato snacks currently offered by Orion in markets such as Korea, China, and Vietnam include six brands, including Pokachips. There are over 70 product variations based on flavor. Among Orion's snacks, nine global mega-brands generate annual sales exceeding 100 billion won; four of these — Pokachips, Oh! Gamja, Swing Chips, and Yegam — are potato snacks.
Orion established the 'Potato Research Institute' in 1988, the first private company in Korea to do so. Under the philosophy that "good products come from good raw materials," Orion directly embarked on developing superior dedicated potato varieties. Only three companies worldwide — Orion, PepsiCo, and Garubie — conduct research and development of potato varieties specifically for potato snacks.
Orion has developed new potato varieties such as 'Dubaek' (2000), 'Jinseo' (2023), and 'Jeonggam' (2024). In particular, the flagship variety 'Dubaek' has been distributed to farms since 2020 in collaboration with the Gangwon-do Potato Seed Promotion Association. It now accounts for 90% of domestic summer potato production, significantly contributing to increased farm income. Orion is also accelerating its expansion into overseas markets. Since 2016, it has exported 'Dubaek' and 'Jinseo' seed potatoes to Vietnam, marking the first case of "industrialization through potato seed exports." In China, Orion completed the development of a new variety, 'OA2132', in 2024 and is currently applying for a patent.
Currently, the total potato cultivation area operated by Orion through contract farming and direct-managed farms across Korea, China, and Vietnam amounts to 3,000 hectares (approximately 35 square kilometers). This is equivalent to ten times the size of Yeouido or the combined area of 4,200 soccer fields. The Korean subsidiary plans to procure 15,000 tons of fresh potatoes this year alone through approximately 300 farms.
The seed industry is often referred to as the "second semiconductor," a future high-value-added sector. With the government presenting a blueprint to grow the seed industry to a scale of 1.2 trillion won by next year, Orion's active seed research and its win-win model with farmers serve as a milestone for private companies to follow.
An Orion official stated, "It has taken nearly 40 years of effort to produce a single potato snack, from seed development to contract farming with farms and the establishment of a global supply system," adding, "Through our persistence in using high-quality raw materials, we are elevating the status of K-snacks in the global market."
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