{
  "id": 15555062,
  "title": "APR expands US retail presence as Medicube hits Costco shelves",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/apr-expands-us-retail-presence-as-medicube-hits-costco-shelves",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-19T04:07:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20261019/apr-expands-us-retail-presence-as-medicube-hits-costco-shelves"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korean cosmetics firm APR has recently expanded its retail footprint in the United States by introducing its popular skin care brand, Medicube, to approximately 400 Costco stores. This move aims to bolster the brand's presence in physical stores across North America, with APR aiming to eventually stock Medicube products in all U.S. Costco locations. The company also recently completed the rollout of Medicube to every Costco store in South Korea.\n\nFor the launch, APR crafted a specialized Costco-exclusive package featuring Medicube's best-selling Zero Pore Pad, a toner pad that has maintained the top spot in Amazon's U.S. facial toners and astringents category since February 2025. APR intends to further diversify its Costco offerings by incorporating products from its successful PDRN line, which contains an ingredient derived from salmon DNA. This latest U.S. retail expansion follows APR's recent deals with Ulta Beauty, Target, and Walmart, with the brand already present in about 1,400 Ulta Beauty stores, more than 1,500 Target locations, and around 3,000 Walmart outlets. APR is poised to continue its retail growth in the United States and potentially expand into Costco stores in Canada and Europe.",
  "summary": "Korean beauty company APR said Monday that its flagship skin care brand, Medicube, is now sold in about 400 Costco stores in the United States. The move expands the brand’s presence in physical stores in North America. Medicube products went on sale at Costco’s U.S. stores this month, and the company plans to expand to all of the warehouse club’s U.S. locations. This month it also finished…",
  "key_points": [
    "APR introduces Medicube to 400 Costco stores in U.S.",
    "Medicube's Zero Pore Pad tops Amazon's U.S. facial toners category since Feb 2025",
    "APR plans to add PDRN line products to Costco offerings"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Scaling into major big-box retailers signals a shift from digital dominance toward a massive physical footprint that positions the brand to compete directly with established domestic skincare leaders.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "APR expands US retail presence as Medicube hits Costco shelves",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/apr-expands-us-retail-presence-as-medicube-hits-costco-shelves-15558482",
        "published": "2026-10-19T04:47:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}