Asian grocery giant H Mart expands in Fort Worth

Fort Worth - H Mart, the largest Asian supermarket chain in the U.S., is expanding its presence in Texas with a new store in Haltom City, Dallas Metro News reported. The chain already has two local stores in Plano and Carrollton. H Mart specializes in Asian groceries and housewares and currently operates over 97 stores in 14 states, including six in Texas.

H Mart's website describes it as America's premier Asian food destination, offering a full line of Asian foods and a broad range of Western groceries. The chain provides everyday essentials as well as upscale products, positioning itself as a full-scale alternative to traditional supermarkets.

The name "H Mart" derives from the Korean phrase "han ah reum," which means "one arm full of groceries." Michelle Zauner, author of Crying in H Mart, describes the supermarket as a place where parachute kids can find familiar brands and Korean families can buy ingredients for traditional dishes. It's the only store where you can find a large vat of peeled garlic, indicating how the store truly understands its customers' needs, Zauner writes.

The first H Mart opened in 1982 in Woodside, Queens, at a time when the Asian population in America was only about 1.5%, according to the New York Times. The company's founder, Il Yeon Kwon, left South Korea in the late 1970s, moved to New York, and continues to serve as CEO of the family business.

H Mart is owned and operated by the Hanahreum Group, which is headquartered in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.

Credit: Dallas Metro News, Progressive Grocer