On a trip to Korea in 2017, Carol Pak re-discovered makgeolli, a traditional Korean alcohol made with rice. She learned that makgeolli was Korea’s oldest alcoholic beverage and that there were hundreds of different makgeolli breweries.
With just three ingredients, she was fascinated that makgeolli could taste so delicious and diverse, and she was disappointed by the makgeolli options she found back home in the US. What followed was a passion to globalize Korean alcohol in an accessible and inclusive way with Màkku.
Supplier Profile: Màkku / Sool
“In the past decade, there’ s been a genuine push from the younger generations who are now in their twenties, thirties, wanting to learn more about their Korean heritage. And, I think wanting to pay homage to what’s actually Korean. And a lot of us who care a lot more about authentic products are saying ‘Let’s brew makgeolli the correct way.”
Carol Pak, Founder and CEO, Sool
Meet Mary Guiver – Beer & Spirits at Whole Foods Market
“Newer generations of customers are looking for something new, they’re pushing the boundaries or they’re going back to something that’s heritage and old, kind of reinventing it. And we hone in on what the customer is changing and growing around. It could be at a small level, like in their own community, in their backyard, but it could also be like a global trend that we’ve just kind of missed that’s showing up, and like now it’s at the forefront and it’s manifesting in a drink.”
Mary Guiver, Senior Team Leader of Category Merchandising, Beer & Spirits, Whole Foods Market
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