[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Seoul, South Korea — July 9, 2025 — Lotte Wellfood announced the completion and launch of its first overseas Pepero production line at its subsidiary LOTTE India’s Haryana plant, marking a major milestone in the brand’s global expansion. This is the first time Pepero, the company’s signature chocolate-dipped biscuit stick snack, is being produced outside of Korea.
In January 2024, Lotte Wellfood committed KRW 33 billion (approx. INR 2.1 billion) to build the production facility in Haryana, northern India. With the plant now fully operational, the company will begin manufacturing and distributing Pepero across the country.
India, with its population of 1.4 billion and a confectionery market valued at KRW 17 trillion (approx. USD 12 billion), represents a key growth opportunity for Lotte Wellfood. The company will initially launch two core flavors—Original and Crunchy Pepero—tailored to the Indian market’s high chocolate consumption preferences.
Sales will begin in Delhi and expand nationwide through various retail channels, including large-format stores and e-commerce platforms. The product has been specially adapted to withstand India’s hot and humid climate, with a chocolate coating that resists melting at temperatures up to 40°C. Lotte also sourced optimal wheat flour to ensure the biscuit’s crisp texture.
Targeting India’s Gen Z consumers (born in the late 1990s to early 2000s), Lotte Wellfood plans to roll out a marketing campaign in September featuring global brand ambassadors—K-pop group Stray Kids.
The company also plans to introduce a wider variety of flavors suited to local tastes and expand exports to neighboring regions such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
As part of its “One India” growth strategy, Lotte Wellfood recently completed the merger of its local subsidiaries LOTTE India and Havmor. The company aims to achieve annual sales of KRW 1 trillion (approx. USD 720 million) in India by 2032.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
