Korin

What Korin does

Korin, Inc. is a privately held US specialty retailer founded in 1982 and headquartered at 57 Warren Street in Tribeca, New York. The company imports and distributes professional-grade Japanese kitchenware, with its core assortment centered on Japanese chef knives across nine distributed brands (Korin, Togiharu, Suisin, Misono, Nenox, Masamoto Sohonten, Masanobu, Glestain, MAC & Sugimoto) spanning styles such as Gyuto, Yanagi, Santoku, Sujihiki, Nakiri, and Deba. Beyond knives, Korin sells sharpening stones, tableware collections (Korin Durable Chinaware, Mino, M.Style, Arita, and roughly twenty other lines), sushi and ramen bar supplies, drinkware, kitchenware, disposables, Japanese ingredients, and curated gift collections, with prices ranging from $0.65 chopstick rests to $1,695 premium folding knives. The company also monetizes aftermarket services including 2-3 day knife sharpening and repair, left-handed knife conversion, and custom engraving (including sake box engraving).

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model through its e-commerce storefront at korin.com, a physical showroom in Tribeca, and phone/mail order, shipping worldwide. Case quantity discounts (typically 10%) and a Korin Hospitality Membership program support bulk and repeat buyers in the professional segment. Two customer segments are served: professional chefs, restaurants, and culinary institutions (primary), and home cooking enthusiasts (secondary). Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with no disclosed subscription or licensing component. Korin has been continuously operating for over four decades with no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, leadership changes, or institutional ownership, remaining an independent privately held corporation.

Name

Korin

Legal name

Korin, Inc.

Website

https://korin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Korin, Inc. is a New York-based specialty retailer founded in 1982 that imports and sells professional-grade Japanese kitchenware — knives, tableware, sushi and ramen supplies — through its e-commerce site and Tribeca showroom, serving professional chefs, restaurants, and home cooking enthusiasts worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Japanese Kitchenware & Cutlery

NAICS

Metal Kitchen Cookware, Utensil, Cutlery, and Flatware (except Precious) Manufacturing (332215)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Frozen Meal Kits & Skillet Bags (CRADADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Kosher Certification Services (AFALAMAG)

Keywords

• Japanese kitchen knives
• Professional cutlery
• Japanese tableware
• Knife sharpening services
• Culinary supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Korin generates revenue primarily through direct sales of Japanese knives, tableware, kitchen tools, and culinary equipment via their e-commerce website and physical showroom. Products range from entry-level items ($0.65 for chopstick rests) to premium artisanal pieces ($1,695 for high-end folding knives). The company offers case quantity discounts for bulk purchases, providing volume-based pricing for restaurants and businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Korin is a direct-to-consumer retailer of professional Japanese kitchen knives, tableware, kitchenware, sushi and ramen supplies, drinkware, and related restaurant equipment. It sells curated products from multiple Japanese makers (Korin, Togiharu, Suisin, Misono, Nenox, Masamoto Sohonten, Glestain, MAC & Sugimoto) through its own e-commerce site, a Tribeca, New York showroom, and worldwide shipping. Complementary paid services include knife sharpening and repair, left-handed knife conversion, and custom engraving.

Product overview

Korin is a direct-to-consumer retailer and supplier of professional quality Japanese knives, tableware, kitchen appliances, kitchen tools, and barware. The core product offering centers on Japanese chef knives across multiple brands (Korin, Togiharu, Suisin, Misono, Nenox, Masamoto Sohonten, Masanobu, Glestain, MAC, Sugimoto) in various styles (Gyuto, Yanagi, Santoku, Sujihiki, Petty, Nakiri, Deba, Kiritsuke, and specialized knives). Complementary product lines include sharpening stones, tableware collections (Korin Durable Chinaware, Matte White, Ainagashi, Brown Nenrin, Dual, Ginshu Metallic Red, Tessa Black, Mino, M.Style, Arita, among others), kitchenware (cutting boards, cookware, rice cookers, utensils), sushi supplies, drinkware, grilling items, ramen supplies, disposables, and food ingredients. Korin also offers services including professional knife sharpening/repair (2-3 day turnaround), left-handed knife conversion, and custom engraving. The company operates a B2C e-commerce platform and physical showroom in New York City's Tribeca neighborhood.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Japanese Knives

Quantifiable outcome

• Knife sharpening turnaround time: 2-3 business days

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sur La Table: Multi-category specialty kitchenware retailer carrying Japanese knives, tableware, and culinary supplies among a broader assortment, competing with Korin for kitchen enthusiasts but operating at significantly larger scale.
• Williams Sonoma: Large specialty kitchenware retailer with premium cutlery, tableware, and Japanese kitchen offerings, competing for the same aspirational home cook customer but with a much broader catalog and store footprint.
• Wüsthof: Premium German knife manufacturer with established US retail and DTC presence, competing for the same professional chef and serious home cook segments with a Western-style cutlery alternative to Korin's Japanese focus.
• Zwilling J.A. Henckels: Global cutlery and kitchenware manufacturer and retailer with strong Japanese (Miyabi) and Western knife lines, competing in the premium knife category Korin serves while operating a much wider global distribution network.

Direct peers

• Misen: DTC kitchen knives and cookware brand selling direct-to-consumer through an e-commerce storefront with premium positioning, directly comparable to Korin's knife and kitchenware assortment.
• Made In: DTC premium kitchen knives and cookware brand with a similar direct-to-consumer e-commerce model and chef-endorsed positioning, competing for the same home cook and prosumer customer.
• Japanese Knife Imports (JKI): Online specialty retailer focused on Japanese chef knives, sharpening stones, and accessories, overlapping directly with Korin's core product category and target customer base of professional and enthusiast cooks.
• Chef Knives To Go: Online specialty cutlery retailer offering a broad assortment of Japanese and Western chef knives, sharpening services, and educational content, mirroring Korin's specialty focus and service model.
• MTC Kitchen: US-based retailer specializing in Japanese knives, sushi supplies, and Japanese kitchenware, serving both professional sushi chefs and home enthusiasts with a comparable product mix and target customer base.

Emerging players

• Cangshan Cutlery: Premium knife brand offering Japanese-inspired and Western cutlery through DTC and retail channels, competing in the same premium knife category but with a broader mass-premium distribution footprint than Korin.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Korinjapaneseknives

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Korin