CJ CheilJedang said on the 25th that it built the food industry's first automated production facility for frozen kimbap at the CJ Blossom Campus in Jincheon, North Chungcheong.
CJ CheilJedang said it was a strategic investment to proactively respond to rising global demand for kimbap. The frozen kimbap production line automates the entire process, from adding fillings to cutting rolls and placing them in trays. CJ CheilJedang developed the automated equipment over about a year and six months. It increased production speed, minimized product weight variance, and secured production stability. Process design that improves sanitation levels also meets global hygiene standards.
Building on its know-how in cooking frozen rice (the process of washing rice, adding water, and cooking), it further strengthened taste and quality. With rapid-freezing technology optimized for frozen kimbap, it can maintain quality throughout distribution and storage.
As part of its strategy to expand global K-food, CJ CheilJedang launched Bibigo Frozen Kimbap in 2023. Since launch, cumulative global sales have surpassed 8 million units. The compound annual sales growth rate is about 130%, CJ CheilJedang said. It currently sells six products—bulgogi, spicy pork, vegetable, bibimbap, kimchi cheese, and tuna mayo—in 25 countries including the United States, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan.
With the Jincheon production base secured, CJ CheilJedang plans to accelerate global business expansion. It aims to increase exports mainly to the United States, Europe, and Australia, and further strengthen competitiveness in global markets by expanding placement in U.S. local grocery stores in the second half of this year.
A CJ CheilJedang official said, "This is a strategic investment to accelerate the expansion of K-food's footprint, going beyond simply adding equipment to increase output," adding, "We will develop Bibigo Kimbap into the representative 'K-kimbap.'"