Sinto Gourmet

What Sinto Gourmet does

Sinto Gourmet is a family-owned, bootstrapped manufacturer of traditional Korean fermented foods headquartered in San Francisco, founded in 2010 by Hyunjoo with $8,500 in personal savings and a single farmer's market stand. The company produces handmade kimchi (four varieties including Spicy Red Napa Cabbage, Mild White Napa Cabbage, Spicy Red Korean Mu Radish, and Plenty Roots), gochujang-based hot sauces (Garlic Sesame, Tangy Apple, Korean Chili Paste), Korean BBQ sauces (Classic, Spicy, Lemongrass), a Kraut-Chi hybrid fermented-vegetable line launched in 2024 (four flavors), and a pickle line launched in 2024 (four flavors). All products are naturally fermented using live Lactobacillus cultures, are predominantly gluten-free and vegan, and carry Non-GMO and organic certifications; the company emphasizes clean-label formulation with no MSG, preservatives, or additives, and produces gochujang from scratch using traditional malt-steeping methods.

The underlying production technology is artisanal rather than automated: fermentation relies on family recipes, manual labor, and small-batch processes, with equipment used only for repetitive tasks. The company generates revenue through four channels: direct e-commerce via a Shopify storefront (with $36 minimum order, $8 flat shipping, free shipping above $70, weekly Monday shipping via USPS Priority Mail with insulation and ice packs); retail wholesale through Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmer's Market, reaching thousands of stores nationwide; online grocery marketplaces (Good Eggs, Imperfect Foods); and a dedicated foodservice division selling bulk product to restaurants, hotels, corporations (Google), universities (Stanford), and other institutional buyers. Product pricing is unit-based at $8–$10 per jar and $36 for 4-packs, with no subscription model. The company has no external institutional funding and no subsidiaries, and operates 11–50 employees from its single San Francisco facility.

Name

Sinto Gourmet

Legal name

Sinto Gourmet

Website

https://sintogourmet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Korean Fermented Foods

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Fermented & Specialty Condiments Manufacturing (Kimchi Base, Gochujang, Miso-Based Sauces) (AFAKADAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wet Seasonings & Pastes (Curry Pastes, Harissa, Gochujang, Spice Pastes) (AFAJANAI)

Keywords

• Korean fermented foods
• Kimchi products
• Gochujang sauces
• Korean BBQ sauces
• Artisanal pickled vegetables

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Consumer direct purchases through company Shopify storefront. Products shipped perishable via USPS Priority Mail with $36 minimum order, $8 flat shipping or free over $70.
2. Retail Wholesale: Wholesale distribution to major retail chains including Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmer's Market nationwide. Products available in thousands of retail stores.
3. Food Service / Bulk: Bulk product sales to foodservice clients including restaurants, hotels, corporations, schools, and meal delivery companies. Foodservice-specific sizes offered for easy menu planning.
4. Online Marketplace: Distribution through online grocery marketplaces including Good Eggs and Imperfect Foods for regional delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sinto Gourmet manufactures and sells traditional Korean fermented foods from a San Francisco facility, including four core product lines: Kimchi (4 varieties), Gochu Jang hot sauces (3 varieties), Korean BBQ sauces (3 varieties), and Kraut-Chi hybrid fermented vegetables (4 varieties), plus a 2024-launched Pickles line (4 varieties). All products are handmade using family recipes and traditional Korean fermentation with clean-label ingredients (no MSG, no preservatives, no additives), and are predominantly gluten-free and vegan.

Product overview

Sinto Gourmet is a family-owned Korean food company based in San Francisco since 2010, offering a portfolio of fermented Korean foods centered around four core product lines: traditional Kimchi (4 varieties including Spicy Red Napa Cabbage, Mild White Napa Cabbage, Spicy Red Korean Radish, and Plenty Roots), Gochu Jang Hot Sauces (3 varieties including Garlic Sesame, Tangy Apple, and Korean Chili Paste), Korean BBQ Sauces (3 varieties including Classic, Spicy, and Lemongrass), and Kraut-Chi hybrid fermented vegetables (4 varieties including Smoky Jalapeno, Lemongrass, Mediterranean, and Crunchy Beet). The company also launched a new Pickle line in 2024 with 4 varieties (Red Onion, Jalapeno, Thai Cucumber, and Spicy Korean). All products emphasize clean ingredients, traditional fermentation methods, and are predominantly gluten-free and vegan. Products are available through retail stores (Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmer's Market), online ordering, and food service channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kimchi - Spicy Red Napa Cabbage Traditional Korean kimchi made with Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, and red pepper powder. Handmade, naturally fermented, gluten-free, and vegan. 397g container.
• Kimchi - Mild White Napa Cabbage North Korean-style kimchi with sweeter, fruity flavor and subtle sweetness from apple juice. Capasaicin-free option. Gluten-free and vegan.
• Kimchi - Spicy Red Korean 'Mu' Radish Korean 'Kkakdugi' radish kimchi with unique crunchy texture and intense heat. Pairs especially well with soups and stews.
• Kimchi - Plenty Roots Antioxidant-rich kimchi featuring organic roots (red beets, carrots) and dried orange peel. Inspired by cancer-healthy cooking, non-spicy, tangy with ginger notes. Certified Non-GMO and Organic.
• Gochu Jang - Garlic Sesame Korean Hotsauce Hot sauce inspired by Gochu Jang for Bibim Bab with complex savory hot flavor. Vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free with no MSG, no wheat. 227g.
• Gochu Jang - Tangy Apple Korean Hotsauce Sweet, tangy and spicy hot sauce pairing well with seafood, sashimi, and cold noodle salads. Vegan, non-GMO, gluten-free. 227g.
• Gochu Jang - Korean Chili Paste Traditional fermented red chili hot sauce made with simple authentic ingredients using traditional Korean methods. Online exclusive 283g size.
• Korean Classic BBQ Sauce Korean BBQ sauce for Bulgogi and Galbi with restaurant-worthy flavors. Vegan, gluten-free. Contains soy and sesame. 340g.
• Korean Spicy BBQ Sauce Spicy Korean BBQ sauce made with house-made Gochujang for Aka Jeyuk Bokkeum (grilled pork). Vegan, gluten-free.
• Lemongrass BBQ Sauce Bright floral and lemony tasting sauce for grilled dishes. Vegan, gluten-free. Contains soy. 340g.
• Kraut-Chi - Smoky Jalapeno Hybrid of Kimchi and Sauerkraut using mesquite wood-smoked jalapenos for intense smoky flavor. Gluten-free and vegan.
• Kraut-Chi - Lemongrass Hybrid kimchi-kraut product with fresh lemongrass and citrusy flavor with mild heat. Gluten-free and vegan.
• Kraut-Chi - Mediterranean Hybrid kimchi-kraut with Mediterranean herbs including garlic, oregano, and rosemary. Gluten-free and vegan.
• Kraut-Chi - Crunchy Beet Hybrid kimchi-kraut with red beet and apple juice for subtle sweetness and floral notes with ginger finish. Gluten-free and vegan.
• Pickle - Red Onion Chinese five-spice pickled red onions with sweet, tangy bite and star anise, cinnamon, cloves notes. Gluten-free and vegan. 454g.
• Pickle - Jalapeno Garlic-infused jalapeno pickles with bold spice, tang, and savory depth. Gluten-free and vegan.
• Pickle - Thai Cucumber Thai-inspired cucumber pickles infused with lemongrass and chili flakes for refreshing citrusy crunch with gentle heat. Gluten-free and vegan.
• Pickle - Spicy Korean Korean-inspired spicy cucumber pickles with gochugaru and fresh garlic for tangy crunch with Korean spice. Gluten-free and vegan.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% positive review rating on kimchi products
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Whole Foods MarketcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor national retail chain distributing Sinto Gourmet products. Products available in thousands of retail stores nationwide through this partnership.
• Sprouts Farmer's MarketcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNatural foods grocery chain carrying Sinto Gourmet products in their retail stores across the US.
• Good EggsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline grocery marketplace partner for regional delivery of Sinto Gourmet products.
• Imperfect FoodsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline marketplace focusing on imperfect/ugly produce and grocery items, offering Sinto Gourmet products.
• Gott's RoadsideminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCalifornia restaurant chain (with locations in St. Helena and Sausalito) featuring Sinto Gourmet products. Image provided on Sinto Gourmet's food service page.
• GoogleminorOthersCorporate dining service at Google locations uses Sinto Gourmet products, with professional chefs incorporating them into food service menus.
• Stanford UniversityminorOthersUniversity dining services at Stanford University use Sinto Gourmet products for food service operations.
• Intercontinental HotelminorOthersHospitality partner using Sinto Gourmet products in hotel restaurant kitchen operations.
• Chef Clifton LeevanonminorOthersProfessional chef endorser providing testimonial: 'Quality, wholesomeness, and great consistency of products are my top priorities, all of which I always find in Sinto Gourmet's line of products.'

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mother-in-Law's Kimchi: Artisan Korean kimchi brand founded in New York with a fermentation-focused, clean-label approach. Direct competitor in the premium, naturally fermented kimchi segment sold through natural and mainstream retailers.
• Wildbrine: U.S. maker of naturally fermented vegetables and sauerkrauts with national natural-foods distribution. Closely comparable on product format (live-culture fermented produce), clean-label positioning, and retail channel mix.
• Cleveland Kraut: Craft sauerkraut and fermented-vegetable brand sold through natural foods retail and DTC. Comparable as a small-batch, fermentation-led CPG challenger building a national brand.
• Farmhouse Culture: Fermented vegetables and gut-health-focused CPG brand carried in Whole Foods and other natural chains. Direct competitor in the premium fermented-produce aisle with overlapping retail and DTC channels.
• Sonoma Brinery: Small-batch artisan sauerkraut and fermented-vegetable producer based in Northern California. Comparable on craft fermentation positioning, regional origin story, and natural-foods retail channel.
• The Real Dill: Craft pickle and fermented-vegetable brand with national distribution and DTC sales. Comparable on small-batch fermented CPG, Whole Foods placement, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce strategy.
• Lucky Foods: Korean food brand offering kimchi and Korean sauces to U.S. retail and foodservice. Comparable as a Korean-heritage CPG with overlapping SKU categories and retail distribution model.

Emerging players

• KP Kimchi: Smaller Korean kimchi producer with regional U.S. distribution. Comparable product category and DTC/retail mix, but smaller scale and less brand recognition than Sinto Gourmet.

Broad incumbents

• Kikkoman: Global leader in soy sauce and Asian fermented condiments. Operates in the same fermented Asian condiment category with overlapping SKUs (Gochujang-style sauces) but at vastly greater scale and broader portfolio.
• Chung's One: Established Korean food brand (under CJ CheilJedang) selling kimchi and Korean sauces in U.S. retail. Comparable product categories but significantly larger scale, broader distribution, and stronger trade-promotion muscle.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SintoGourmet
• Instagraminstagram.com/sintogourmet
• Xx.com/sintogourmet
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sinto-gourmet-llc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sinto Gourmet