Seoul, Korea –  October 1, 2014 — On September 18, Connell Brothers (CBC) Korea held an event at the Grand Hilton hotel in Seoul to mark the 60th year since the company opened its doors in 1954 as a commodity trading agent, a year after the Korean War.

Today, CBC Korea is a part of Connell Brothers, a division of Wilbur-Ellis Company and the largest distributor and marketer of specialty chemicals and food ingredients in Asia-Pacific.  Over the years, as the Korean economy expanded, CBC Korea built its steadily growing business and reputation as a trusted distributor of high quality products from world class global manufacturers.  In the past decade, the company expanded from its base in industrial materials into regulated industries including personal care, food and pharmaceutical ingredients to tap into new market opportunities in this region.

More than sixty honored guests representing partner companies attended the celebration event hosted by Soo Rae Cho, president of CBC Korea, as well as his team.  John Thacher, president and CEO of Wilbur-Ellis, and Azita Owlia, vice president, North Asia, as well as many other high ranking CBC leaders attended the event to express heart-felt appreciation for their support and friendships.

The dinner was a very festive and joyful celebration that began with Mr. Cho’s moving account of the company’s long and proud history, blossoming from a small trading house in 1954 to a 25+ organization today, serving well over 400 customers and representing a stellar supplier roster.

“We are very proud of what we have accomplished here,” said Cho.  “Our industry-trained and experienced sales force serves a very broad spectrum of industries, and are known for our in-depth knowledge in the markets.  They are supported by complete supply chain management, which is linked to a global network. CBC’s strong regional and global presence has enabled us to market top notch multinational and local supplier products with speed and economy for the benefit of our partners.”

“Moving into the future, we continue to execute our strategy to meet the needs of customers.  The expansion of our team, enhancing our infrastructure including laboratories for Coatings and Personal Care, and better and speedier integration of our capabilities to the needs for our customers, etc., all are geared toward enabling us to link the local market with the opportunities that the regional and global principals can bring,” said Owlia. “We continue to build and develop a strong business, with our high caliber of technically trained, industry-focused professionals that understand the local market and products we offer.”

Founded in 1895, Connell Brothers is a division of Wilbur-Ellis Company and is the largest marketer and distributor of specialty chemicals and ingredients in Asia-Pacific with a keen focus on technical service, customer support, and environmental, health, and safety. Connell Brothers provides complete supply chain management from transportation, documentation, warehousing, and sales and distribution in 18 countries and in 43 offices located throughout Asia-Pacific. For more information, please visit www.connellbrothers.com