Green tea pizza brand signs MOU as K-dining eyes Oceania expansion

South Korean dining brands are pushing into the Oceania market, with one green tea dough pizza brand signing export MOUs at a franchise expo in Sydney, Australia.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) said Monday they participated in Food & Hospitality Week Sydney 2026, held May 25-27 in Sydney, to support South Korean food service companies seeking to enter the local market.

Food & Hospitality Week Sydney is one of Oceania's premier food service and franchise events, drawing around 15,000 visitors. This year, 413 companies took part.

aT operated a Korea Pavilion alongside five domestic food service companies, showcasing menus including instant tteokbokki, pizza and bingsu.

A total of 88 buyer consultations took place during the event. Among the participating companies, a pizza brand using green tea dough signed two MOUs related to master franchise agreements, confirming its potential to enter the local market.

Buoyed by the popularity of K-dramas and Korean content, local buyers showed strong interest in Korean-style menus such as instant tteokbokki and bingsu.

"Interest in Korean food is growing alongside the popularity of K-dramas," one Australian buyer at the event said. "I think the companies in the Korea Pavilion will be competitive in the Oceania market as well."

Jeon Gi-chan, aT's director of export food affairs, said Oceania is an important market with a well-developed dining culture. "We will actively support South Korean food service companies in entering the market through local partner development, menu localization and follow-up consultation support," he said.