Shopping

First look inside Oseyo, Manchester Arndale’s huge new Korean supermarket

It's packed with viral products.

Daisy Jackson - 19th July 2024

An enormous Korean supermarket, Oseyo, is ready to open the doors to shoppers in the Manchester Arndale tomorrow.

The 13,000 sq ft Asian superstore is Oseyo’s largest in the UK to date, taking over the old H&M site inside the city centre.

For its official launch tomorrow (Saturday 20 July), they’ll be giving away 500 free VIP tote bags to the first customers through the doors from 11am.

Each tote bag will be stuffed with the biggest, most popular and most viral products from across Korea.

The Manc has snuck in today for an early look at the new Oseyo Manchester store, and the huge space has been decorated beautifully with bright lights and curved natural wooden ceilings.

As well as stocking some of the biggest Korean food brands, the new shop has a bakery section, Korean ice cups, cosmetics, ceramics, toys, stationery, and even a photobooth with two different themed rooms.

Oseyo, which translates as ‘Welcome’, is already a well-known name in Manchester, thanks to its successful Oxford Road store which opened in 2019. 

This new location is the largest Asian supermarket in the north, and five times the size of its existing location across town.

Inside the massive new superstore, shoppers will find brands of noodles, dumplings, dried seaweed and veg, snacks, powder and mixes, sauces and spices, tea, rice and grains, plus drinks including Rice Wine and Soju in original and flavoured variations and non-alcoholic beverages. 

You’ll be able to shop popular Korean brands like Bibigo Mandu Dumplings, Samyang Spicy Noodles, Melona Ice Pops (honeydew/ coconut & mango ice creams), KSD Rice Wine, Hitejinro Soju, Lotte Milkis, and Jongga Kimchi.

There’ll also be a chilled and frozen section with exotic vegetables, Korean-style BBQ cuts, and prepared side dishes.

In the Korean bakery you’ll be able to buy everything from fresh Pandan Cake to viral mango pancakes, as well as Red Bean Buns (Dahn Paht Jjinppang), and Baked Custard Bread (Cream Pan). 

Another viral product available at the new Oseyo Manchester store will be Korean ice cups, where you purchase a cup of ice from the freezer then add in whatever flavoured drink you fancy.

Beyond the food, you’ll be able to pick up Cuckoo electric rice cookers, Korean cosmetics and facemasks, and Korean ceramics, including rice bowls, dipping bowls and dishes. 

ARTBOX, famed Korean toy and stationery supplier, will also be stocked in one of the UK’s largest selections packed with everything from character goods, such as Sanrio and BT21, to homeware and kitchenware like blankets, chopsticks and mugs, plus K-pop themed socks. 

The superstore will have ‘Oseyo Snaps’, a Korean photobooth with viral customisable, editable and printable takeaway pictures available across two themes – Gangnam Nightclub and Hongdae Café. 

Isaac Kweon from Oseyo said: “We’ve received lots of love and support with our existing store in Manchester. The Oseyo team is pulling out all the stops for this megastore in the Arndale, it will definitely be a must-visit destination for all Mancunians.

“Korean foods are in high demand, particularly with the rise of Asian cooking driven through the TikTok generation. In Manchester, there is certainly a demand for an Asian supermarket of this size. The variety of products within our Arndale store is unmatched. 

“We anticipate trending foods including Korean ice cup drinks, mango pancakes, and famed, Samyang Carbonara Noodles, will pull in customers from across the North and beyond.” 

David Allinson, Centre Director at Manchester Arndale, said: “We are really excited to welcome Oseyo to Manchester Arndale as we know it will be a major hit with our shoppers. We place great importance on creating an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants to cater for Manchester’s diverse tastes, so Oseyo is a great addition to our lineup.”

Doors open at 11am on Saturday 20 July, with Oseyo management encouraging Mancunians to get down before 9am with customer queues expected out the doors for the store’s grand opening.

Read more

• The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 22-28 July 2024
• First look at Junction, the huge new restaurant and bar at the iconic Manchester Central building
• Hairspray lands at the Palace Theatre, proving to audience members that you really can’t stop the beat

Featured image: The Manc Group