Bad Korean
See how Bad Korean, a growing Canadian consumer food company, leveraged EDI2XML’s fully managed cloud EDI platform to meet the electronic trading requirements of Loblaw, one of Canada’s largest retail chains.
By implementing a centralized EDI intermediary solution for inbound EDI 850 Purchase Orders and outbound EDI 810 Invoices, EDI2XML enabled Bad Korean to transact with enterprise retail systems without investing in internal EDI infrastructure.
Through automated document retrieval, transformation, web portal visibility, and trading partner connectivity, the solution streamlined retail order processing, improved operational efficiency, and positioned Bad Korean for scalable expansion into larger retail distribution channels.
Client
Bad Korean is a Canadian direct-to-consumer food company founded by Sung Kang, MasterChef Canada Season 8 contestant, specializing in Korean-inspired sauces designed as modern, accessible condiments for everyday consumers.
Known for products such as Sung’s Korean Chili Sauce, Original Gochujang, and Srirachajang, the brand combines Korean culinary influence with a scalable Canadian-made production model, serving customers across Canada through eCommerce while expanding into broader wholesale and retail distribution opportunities.
As a fast-growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) company transitioning from direct-to-consumer success toward larger enterprise retail channels, Bad Korean required the operational infrastructure to support national retail partnerships.
To successfully onboard with a major Canadian grocery retailer like Loblaw, the company needed to meet strict EDI compliance standards for purchase orders and invoicing.
Without an internal EDI department or existing B2B integration framework, Bad Korean required a reliable, low-maintenance solution that could bridge the gap between its entrepreneurial growth model and the technical demands of enterprise retail supply chain systems.
Challenges
Prior to implementation, Bad Korean faced several operational and technical barriers:
- No internal EDI infrastructure or specialized EDI resources
- Mandatory EDI compliance requirements from a national retail trading partner
- Need to receive and process EDI 850 Purchase Orders
- Need to generate and transmit compliant EDI 810 Invoices
- Complexity of managing retailer-specific EDI specifications and connectivity protocols
- Limited internal IT burden tolerance as a growing business
Bad Korean needed a fully managed, cloud-based intermediary capable of handling retailer EDI communications while providing a user-friendly operational workflow.
Solution
Rather than requiring Bad Korean to invest in costly ERP systems, custom integrations, or internal EDI expertise, EDI2XML proposed its EDI Web Portal for Small & Mid-Size Businesses – a browser-based, fully managed platform specifically designed for companies that need to exchange EDI documents with enterprise trading partners without implementing complex infrastructure.
This approach provided Bad Korean with a practical, scalable path to retail EDI compliance by leveraging EDI2XML’s self-service web portal as a centralized operational hub for all document exchange activities. Designed for businesses using lightweight systems such as QuickBooks, Excel, or basic accounting tools, the portal eliminated the need for dedicated EDI software, ERP, or CRM systems while still delivering enterprise-grade functionality.
Through the EDI Web Portal, Bad Korean gained the ability to receive, view, process, and respond to retail EDI documents directly from a web browser, while EDI2XML managed the technical complexities of translation, routing, security, partner connectivity, and compliance.
Inbound EDI Documents
EDI 850 – Purchase Order
EDI2XML’s platform automatically connects to the trading partner mailbox at predefined intervals, retrieves inbound purchase orders, validates document integrity, and transforms EDI X12 data into a user-friendly format displayed within the EDI2XML web portal. Functional acknowledgments (997) are automatically generated and transmitted when required.
Outbound EDI Documents
Shipping Label Generation
The EDI2XML portal generates retailer-compliant box labels directly within the workflow, enabling Bad Korean to prepare outbound shipments according to trading partner logistics requirements.
EDI 810 – Invoice
Using the EDI2XML web portal, Bad Korean reviews incoming purchase orders, prepares invoice information, and submits invoice data through responsive web forms. EDI2XML then transforms this data into retailer-compliant EDI 810 documents and securely transmits them to the trading partner.
Integration flow diagram
Core EDI Web Portal Capabilities Delivered
- Browser-based access to inbound and outbound EDI workflows without software installation
- Centralized dashboard for document visibility, tracking, and management
- Automated retrieval of inbound EDI 850 Purchase Orders from the trading partner
- Generation of retailer-compliant box/shipping labels
- Creation and transmission of EDI 856 Advance Ship Notices (ASN)
- Web form interface for processing orders and generating outbound EDI 810 Invoices
- End-to-end shipment workflow management from purchase order through invoicing
- Automated EDI translation and transformation based on trading partner specifications
- Functional acknowledgment (EDI 997) (generation when required)
- Email notifications for incoming purchase orders and workflow events
- Role-based access and permissions for operational control
- Scalable framework to support future trading partners and additional EDI documents
- Customizable interface configuration to accommodate client-specific operational and usability requirements
Results and Benefits
The implementation of EDI2XML’s managed cloud EDI solution delivered key operational and business advantages:
- Retail readiness – Bad Korean achieved compliance with major retail EDI requirements
- Accelerated supplier onboarding – Enabled participation in enterprise retail supply chains faster
- Reduced technical burden – No need for in-house EDI infrastructure, mapping, or connectivity management
- Improved operational efficiency – Automated order retrieval and invoice transmission reduced manual effort
- Centralized workflow – Single web portal for purchase order and invoice processing
- Enhanced compliance – Automated acknowledgments and partner-specific formatting improved accuracy
- Scalable growth foundation – Platform can support future onboarding of additional retail trading partners
Why EDI2XML?
One of the key reasons for selecting EDI2XML EDI Web Portal was the advantage of working with a Canadian-based provider offering pricing in CAD and a subscription model better aligned with the Canadian market, compared to U.S.-based EDI vendors
By implementing the EDI Web Portal, EDI2XML enabled Bad Korean to operate with the capabilities of a larger enterprise supplier while maintaining the simplicity, flexibility, and low IT burden required by a growing consumer brand.
This solution created a foundational retail integration infrastructure that supports both immediate compliance and long-term channel expansion.
About EDI2XML and Namtek Consulting Services
EDI2XML is a sister company of Namtek Consulting Services, focused on managed EDI integration services and cloud-based data exchange solutions for enterprise environments.
Namtek Consulting Services is a Canadian IT consulting firm with over 25 years of experience in enterprise integration, system architecture, and digital transformation. Together, the two organizations deliver end-to-end integration capabilities spanning EDI, API management, supplier onboarding, and cloud integration solutions, helping businesses of all sizes modernize operations, meet trading partner requirements, and scale efficiently.
