

By Kang Seung-woo



A so-called handmade organic cookie maker has been found selling cookies purchased at Costco that it had repackaged.



After angry consumers have called for punishment of the "manufacturer" and launched an online petition on Cheong Wa Dae's website, the company suddenly announced a suspension of its business.



Mimi Cookie, based on Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, has been making a name for itself since July as it boasted about using organic ingredients without artificial additives for its range of products from cookies and macarons to sponge and roll cakes.



However, some consumers suspected that its handmade cookies seemed to be the same as those sold by big-box retailer Costco.



Although the cookie maker initially denied the allegations, the company later admitted that it had sold both handmade cookies and end products from Costco after repackaging them.



"It is true that we changed wrappers of Costco-sold products to sell them together with our handmade cookies," the company said last Friday.



"We never did that to make a huge profit."



However, the fallout stretched to another product as some consumers had suspicions about its roll cake, claiming that it was the same kind sold at Costco, which was also confirmed later.



The company once again admitted they had been selling Costco roll cakes, saying it did this because it could not cope with demand for the product.



"We tried to tell the truth, but frankly speaking, we were also concerned about profits," it said.



Although the company said buyers of cookies and roll cakes would get a refund, it refused to refund those who purchased macarons and sponge cake, claiming that those were its own products, and not from other retailers.



However, consumers raise questions that it seems Mimi Cookie just added cream to sponge cakes available at E-mart Traders to make its "whipped cream-stuffed sponge cake."



Customers are outraged because the company not only lied to them about it only using organic ingredients for handmade desserts, but also sold its products at relatively expensive prices.



Mimi Cookie the roll cakes and cookies at 19,500 won and 19,000 won respectively, whereas Costco sells the same products for 7,000 won and 13,000 won.



Customers are preparing to file a lawsuit against the company.



"We plan to carry out an on-site inspection of the cookie maker about allegations surrounding it," said an official of Eumseong County.



"If we find the alleged wrongdoings true, we will consider taking administrative measures as well."





