Who makes Milkis? LOTTE Chilsung and buying Korean drinks for retail in Europe

Who is LOTTE Chilsung Beverage?

LOTTE Chilsung Beverage belongs to the South Korean LOTTE group. The group's company profile gives its founding date as 9 May 1950 and its address as 269 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul. The same profile lists its brands, among them Chilsung Cider, Del Monte, Cantata, Trevi and Icis 8.0, and names the soft drinks Pepsi Cola and Mountain Dew in its range.

One point often causes confusion: LOTTE is a very broad group. Chewing gum, hotels and shopping are other LOTTE businesses. For Milkis, the relevant company is the beverage arm, so that is the name to look for when you check who stands behind a can.

What is Milkis, and how long has it existed?

Milkis is a sweet carbonated soft drink made with milk; the LOTTE profile calls it a creamy soda. According to the Korean newspaper Digital Times (23 February 2017), it launched in April 1989. The Original can in our range describes the taste as milk and yoghurt, which gives staff a one-line explanation for customers who have never seen it.

Asia Economy reported on 16 July 2025 that annual sales of the brand had passed 100 billion won, that eight varieties are sold in more than 50 countries, and that the United States, Russia, China and Taiwan each exceed 10 million cans a year. These are figures reported in the press for the global brand, not for Europe.

Where is LOTTE Chilsung active abroad?

The LOTTE profile names overseas branches in China, the Philippines, Myanmar and Pakistan and says the company exports its products worldwide. It does not mention Europe. Asia Economy lists no EU country among the largest destinations for Korean drinks overall in the first half of 2025: China led with a 28.3 % share, followed by the United States, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Russia.

For a retailer, that is an honest picture. Milkis is established in Asia and the United States but still an import niche in most EU countries, so it fills a gap on a shelf rather than competing with a dozen local products. Interest is growing, though. The Korea Herald, citing the Agriculture Ministry, reported on 20 October 2026 that Korean food exports to the EU rose 23.5 % to 728.38 million US dollars in the first nine months of the year. That figure covers all food, not only drinks.

How do Korean drinks reach European shops?

Most reach Europe through importers and distributors, which then supply wholesalers and shops. When a food comes from outside the EU, Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 makes the importer into the EU responsible for the food information. For drinks, the chain often adds a second issue that snacks do not have: the deposit.

We know of no public list of LOTTE Chilsung's European trade partners, so we do not name any here. Ask your supplier the same questions you would ask for any import: where the goods came from, which market they were meant for and whether you receive an invoice with full company details. Our overview of Korean snacks and drinks in Europe covers the wider category and how to place it.

What should retailers check on a can of Milkis?

Language: The cans in our range carry Korean script as part of the design. Whatever the design, mandatory food information has to be available in a language your customers understand. In Germany, § 2 LMIDV requires German. Check the requirements in your own country.

Allergens: Milkis is made with milk, so customers with a milk allergy need to know that at a glance. Do not describe it as dairy-free or vegan.

Deposit: Our Milkis cans are sold with German deposit. A can bearing the German deposit mark can only be returned for deposit in Germany, and other countries run their own systems. Our guide to deposit drinks sold abroad explains what that means for you.

Halal: We make no halal statement for Milkis. If your customers ask, tell us and we will request the available documents from the manufacturer.

How do Milkis and Cantabile Ade fit into one shelf?

Milkis works best next to other Korean products. Customers who look for Buldak often want a mild drink alongside, and a small Korean corner is easier to find than single cans spread over a fridge. Cantabile Ade, in 230 ml pouches and four flavours, broadens that corner and carries no German deposit. It is a separate brand: we do not describe it as a LOTTE product.

As a rule of thumb, start with Original and one fruit flavour, watch for two or three weeks and then add the rest. Because cartons hold 30 cans, sharing a first order across two flavours keeps the risk manageable.

What does MDH offer for Milkis?

We work directly with the manufacturers. Four flavours are in stock: Original, Banana, Strawberry and Melon, each in 250 ml cans with 30 cans per carton. Our goods are intended for the EU market. On orders for other countries, we clarify per product whether the German deposit is charged or taken out.

You pay no minimum order value, and German deliveries usually arrive within 24–48 hours. We deliver to all EU countries. A valid EU VAT ID means no German VAT; without a valid number 19 % German VAT applies, and you can still sign up. See the flavours on the Milkis wholesale page and register as a dealer to see prices.

Sources

• LOTTE Chilsung Beverage, company profile (LOTTE Group, accessed November 2026)
• Milkis launched in April 1989; cumulative sales to 2016 (Digital Times, 23 February 2017, Korean)
• I Love Milkis: K-beverage exports hit all-time high in first half of year (Asia Economy, 16 July 2025)
• Samyang, Nongshim, Ourhome, Samlip leaders double down on Europe (The Korea Herald, 20 October 2026, with Agriculture Ministry export figures)
• Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (EUR-Lex)
• § 2 Lebensmittelinformations-Durchführungsverordnung (gesetze-im-internet.de)