Update (October 2026): KFT has changed its membership policy since I first wrote this post. There is now a free General Membership, so anyone can shop there with just a valid ID. I have updated the Membership section below with the new tiers.
KFT Wholesale Cash & Carry, also known as Korean Food Trading, opened its Vaughan location in 2023. It's a huge warehouse full of Korean food and products, and it feels a lot like Costco inside: clean, spacious and well stocked.
How I Ended Up Here
Around the time KFT opened, I kept seeing ads for its grand opening. They were promoting it as a brand-new concept: a membership-based, Costco-style warehouse dedicated to Korean food. I had never heard of anything quite like that in the GTA, so I was curious enough to pre-register and go check it out for myself.
Getting there was easy. There's plenty of free parking on site, which is a big plus compared to some Korean grocery stores where finding a spot on a weekend can be a challenge. When you are buying in bulk and loading up a cart, having your car right there makes a huge difference.
First Impressions
My very first thought when I walked in was, "This is Costco, but for Korean stuff." High ceilings, wide aisles, big pallets of products stacked up on industrial shelving, and flat carts to haul everything around. The store was clean and bright, and it didn't feel cramped the way smaller grocery stores sometimes do.
If you are used to shopping at Korean supermarkets where everything is packed tightly onto shelves, KFT feels like a completely different experience. It's built for people who want to fill a cart and stock up, not just grab a few things for dinner.
What They Sell
Walking the aisles, I was surprised by how much they carry: drinks, canned food, ramyeon, teas, fresh meat, Korean BBQ grills and more. I expected only Korean products, but there are regular grocery items too.
That mix is part of what makes it useful. You can pick up your Korean staples like ramyeon by the case and big containers of sauces, then grab everyday groceries in the same trip. Restaurant owners and small businesses will also find a lot here, since many products come in larger, foodservice-friendly sizes. The fresh meat section and the Korean BBQ grills are especially handy if you like hosting K-BBQ nights at home.
One thing to note: there's no food court. Unlike Costco, you will not be grabbing a hot dog on your way out, so plan to eat before or after your trip.
Is It Cheaper?
This is the question everyone asks. For a single item, prices aren't much lower than at other Korean grocery stores like Galleria, H Mart or PAT. In general I would say KFT tends to be a bit cheaper, but the difference on any one product isn't huge.
Where it really pays off is in bulk. If you run a business, or you buy two or more of something you use regularly, the savings add up quickly. Think about the things you go through constantly, like ramyeon, drinks, rice or sauces. Buying those in larger quantities here makes sense. If you only need one or two items for a recipe, your neighbourhood Korean grocery store will probably do just fine.
Membership (Updated 2026)
KFT is a membership-based cash & carry, so you need a membership to make purchases. When I first visited in 2023, there was no free option:
- General membership: $20 per year
- Business membership: $50 per year, with an annual 2% rebate on purchases
Back then, you could walk in and browse without a membership, but you couldn't buy anything. I pre-registered online in February 2023, before the store opened, and got a free one-year membership as an early sign-up perk.
Honestly, after that first year was up, I stopped going for a while. I just didn't want to pay a yearly fee when I wasn't sure I would shop there often enough to make it worth it. Then someone told me KFT had changed its policy and membership was now free. Since then, I have gone back a couple of times.
According to KFT's website, these are the current membership tiers:
- General Membership: Free. Lets you shop with no fee. You just need a valid piece of ID to register.
- Gold Membership: $20 per year. Includes a 2% rebate.
- Black Membership: $50 per year. Includes a 2% rebate plus a 5% bulk discount.
A few other details from their FAQ:
- Memberships are open to both individuals and businesses, including restaurants, retailers and foodservice operators.
- You can upgrade from General to Gold or Black at any time by paying the fee.
- There's no minimum purchase required.
- You can sign up online or in-store at the customer service centre, and it only takes a few minutes with a valid ID.
Benefits can change, so check the KFT membership FAQ for the latest details before you go. If you are a casual shopper, the free tier is more than enough. If you are running a business or buying in large quantities regularly, the Black membership's bulk discount could pay for itself.
A Handy Holiday Option
One thing I really appreciate about KFT is that, in my experience, it's usually open on holidays. There have been times when I needed groceries and everything else nearby was closed, and KFT was where I could go. That said, please don't just take my word for it. Hours can change, so check their website or call ahead before heading over on a holiday.
Final Thoughts
If you want to stock up on Korean food and groceries in bulk, KFT Wholesale Cash & Carry is a great option. The selection is huge, the store is clean and spacious, parking is easy and free, and the bulk prices are good. And now that there's a free membership, there's really no reason not to give it a try. Grab your ID, bring a big cart's worth of appetite, and see for yourself why it's become so popular with the Korean community in Vaughan and beyond.
KFT Wholesale Cash & Carry
- Address: 8500 Keele St, Vaughan, ON L4K 2A6
- Website: kftcnc.ca
- Membership info: KFT membership FAQ
