When I first encountered the King Sue brand in the supermarkets—with its wide range of meat products—I didn’t immediately realize that it was a proudly local homegrown brand. You also might not be aware of this, but what started as a humble meat shop in Manila in 1930 slowly grew into the beloved King Sue brand we know today.
As they celebrate their 93rd anniversary, King Sue takes us down memory lane and reminisces on the brand’s beginnings.
King Sue’s founder, Mr. Cu Un Kay was born in Fookien, China in 1905. At the age of 12, he came to Manila onboard a vessel. He started as a cook for his uncle, who owned a Cold Storage in Echague. With this experience and the equipment he had access to, Mr. Cu Un Kay experimented with hams. Soon after sharing these products with people who became regular customers, the brand grew and grew along with new product additions to their catalog.
So, where did the name “King Sue” come from? “King” is the family’s surname, and “Sue” (pronounced su-weh) is a Fookien term that means “small.” Operations Manager (and grandson of Mr. Cu Un Kay) Richie Brian King shares that “sue” or “small” is what people would call his grandfather long ago. So, they took that and made it into a household brand name for Filipino families.
Starting with their pioneer product Chinese Bone-in Ham, King Sue now offers a wide variety of meat products that are massive parts of Filipinos’ lives—from celebration dinners at home to daily lunch baon meals!
And while you could prepare your favorite King Sue products the usual ways, there are lots of recipes and dishes you can create using these products.
At King Sue’s 93rd anniversary celebration, Chef Gene Gonzales even demonstrated the different ways you can cook with King Sue products! These tasty dishes included Menudo Sulipeña, Banh Mi, and a variety of pizzas.
Of course, just in time for the holiday season, some of King Sue’s bestselling products are in the spotlight yet again. Their Chinese Bone-in Ham, Piña Ham, Pear-shaped Ham, and Hawaiian Ham are all perfect options to add to your noche buena options. Plus, you can’t go wrong with a grazing table featuring King Sue cured meats at your next holiday party.
King Sue has come a long way from their humble beginnings 93 years ago. What probably sets them apart the most from all the other meat brands in the country is the fact that they hold on to traditions even after almost a century since they started. They continue to use some traditional techniques and original recipes from the beginning. They also produce in smaller batches to ensure the consistency and quality of all their products. And that’s why every bite of King Sue products feels like a taste of home and nostalgia.
So, this holiday season—and every season after— you can bring back great memories with great food thanks to King Sue.
You can find your favorite King Sue products at supermarkets nationwide. Start stocking up for the holidays soon and enjoy experimenting with delicious dishes with King Sue.
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