CJ CheilJedang said on the 29th that it released three varieties of "Bibigo gim bugak."
CJ CheilJedang said the product was planned to actively reflect the trend of rising domestic and overseas demand for healthy snacks made with gim, centered on "traditional, handmade, premium."
CJ CheilJedang said that over the past three years (2023–2025), its gim business recorded an average annual growth rate of about 30%, and posted 120 billion won in sales last year in Korea alone. With the launch of the three varieties of "Bibigo gim bugak," the company plans to diversify its snack category portfolio and accelerate overall growth of the gim business.
"Bibigo gim bugak" comes in three varieties: glutinous rice, spicy, and shrimp.
To expand consumer touchpoints, CJ CheilJedang will hold tasting events at big-box supermarkets in July and run a "CJ CheilJedang pop-up store" for one month at Olive Young Myeongdong Central Town, featuring "Bibigo gim bugak."
A CJ CheilJedang official said, "We will not only capture the tastes of domestic consumers with 'Bibigo gim bugak,' but also spread the appeal of Korean traditional snacks overseas to establish ourselves as a leading 'K-snack.'"
According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, gim exports totaled $1.1 billion last year. In response, CJ CheilJedang is planning its business by classifying gim as a type of snack. Recently, it also released a snack wrapped in gim, "Bibigo kimbap roll snack," in Vietnam.