Yun Hai
| Company type | Privately owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | E-commerce, retail |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | Lisa Cheng Smith |
| Headquarters | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
Key people | Lillian Lin (co-owner) |
| Products |
|
| Website | yunhai |
Template:Chinese Yun Hai (Template:Zh) operates as a general store and wholesale e-commerce platform with bases in New York City and Changhua County, Taiwan. Established in 2019 by Lisa Cheng Smith, the enterprise specializes in importing Taiwanese cooking ingredients and dried fruits. The company gained significant media coverage after initiating a Kickstarter project aimed at bringing Taiwanese dried fruit to the U.S. market, following China's 2021 prohibition on Taiwanese pineapple imports.
History
Lisa Cheng Smith, a Taiwanese American raised in Texas, founded Yun Hai in 2019.[1][2] Initially launched as an online boutique, Yun Hai curated a selection of premium Taiwanese gourmet products.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The brand expanded with a physical storefront opening in Brooklyn in June 2022.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
The inaugural item offered by Yun Hai was Su Chili Crisp, a spicy sauce that Cheng Smith had discovered during her time in Taiwan but was previously unavailable within the United States. Following this, the company broadened its inventory to include various soy sauces and hot sauces, predominantly sourced from Taiwanese family-run businesses spanning multiple generations.[2]
In March 2021, following Taiwan’s export of roughly 90% of its pineapples to China, Beijing imposed a ban on these imports—a move Taiwan interpreted as political pressure. In response, Taiwanese officials and supporters branded the fruit as freedom pineapples to promote national pride.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name In light of this ban, Cheng Smith teamed up with co-owner Lillian Lin to launch a Kickstarter campaign aimed at importing dried fruits from independent Taiwanese farmers. While their initial fundraising goal was approximately $12,000, they successfully raised $113,050.[3] Collaborating closely with farmer cooperatives in Taiwan, they focused on drying and packaging pineapples before expanding their dried fruit offerings to include green mango, Irwin mango, pearl guava, and wax apple varieties.[2]
By 2022, Yun Hai secured exclusive rights to distribute Tatung Company's iconic rice cooker in the United States. To engage second-generation Taiwanese Americans, the company also released the Yun Hai Tatung Family Cookbook, featuring traditional Taiwanese recipes translated into English.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
On 30 March 2023, during a stopover in New York City, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visited Yun Hai, highlighting the store’s cultural significance.[1]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Operations
Yun Hai operates two distribution centers within the United States, one situated in California and the other in New York, facilitating product delivery throughout the contiguous United States. Although it maintains a physical retail location in Brooklyn, the majority of Yun Hai's revenue is generated via online sales.[3] By 2023, the company offers more than 70 items through its online platform and stocks over 100 products at its physical store.[2]
See also
References
External links
- Pages with reference errors
- Articles with short description
- American companies established in 2018
- Companies based in New York City
- Kickstarter-funded products
- Online retailers of the United States
- Privately held companies of the United States
- Retail companies of the United States
- Shops in New York City
- Taiwanese-American culture
- Taiwanese cuisine