CJ Cheiljedang said on March 25 the company has established the Korean food industry’s first autonomous frozen “gimbap” (Korean seaweed rice roll) production facility at CJ Blossom Campus in Jincheon, Chungcheongbuk-do.
It is a strategic investment to meet rising global demand.
The frozen gimbap production line automates all processes, ranging from inserting inside ingredients to cutting and placing gimbap into trays.
CJ Cheiljedang began to develop an automation line one-and-a-half years ago.
The company raised production speed and minimized product weight difference.
The frozen gimbap production line has been built up with improved hygiene levels to meet stern global standards.
CJ Cheiljedang has also increases taste quality.
The company has realized the optimal texture of a grain of cooked rice and a glossy rice appearance, based on its frozen rice cooking expertise.
Optimal heating treatment temperature and time tailored according to each ingredient have been set to improve the texture and color of raw materials.
Flash freezing technology optimized for frozen gimbap has enabled the company to maintain top quality during distribution and storage.
It was in 2023 that CJ Cheiljedang launched bibigo frozen gimbap as part of efforts to spread so-called K-food to the world.
The product has seen cumulative sales surpassing 8 million pieces since making its debut.
Bibigo frozen bulgogi (beef) gimbap products made by CJ Blossom Campus.
The product’s annual average growth rate stood at about 130 percent. Six versions, including “bulgogi” made with beef, “jaeyuk” made with fork, “yachae” (vegetables), “bibimbap” (mixed boiled rice) and gimchi cheese have hit the shelves of 25 countries, including the United States, Europe, UK, Australia and Japan.
CJ Cheiljedang plans to accelerate efforts to expand the global business by securing the production center in Jincheon.
The company will boost exports with a focus on the United States, Europe and Australia.
It plans to ramp up its competitive edge in the global market by expanding frozen gimbap’s entry into grocery stores in the United States.
A CJ Cheiljedang official said, “It is a strategic investment to accelerate the business horizon of K-food beyond a simple facility buildup to raise production levels, and Bibigo Gimbap will be raised to K-gimbap, Korea’s representative gimbap brand.”
A view of PHA, a 100 percent bio-based, marine biodegradable plastic, produced by CJ Cheiljedang.
CJ Cheiljedang to Supply PHA to Konspec to Expand Global Eco-Friendly Bio Material Business
Global plastic-free trends have been widespread, such as the EU’s entry into force of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation 2025/40 (PPWR), in February 2025.
As energy conservation trends have been reinforced in Korea, Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a 100% bio-based, marine biodegradable plastic produced by CJ Cheiljedang has been highlighted.
PHA is capable of all modes of biodegradation including marine, soil, home, and industrial composting.
CJ Cheiljedang said on March 30 the company will supply PHA to Konspec, an Indian bioplastic compound leader.
Under an agreement, CJ Cheiljedang will deliver PHA to Konspec, which will use it to make produce compounds optimized for cutlery such as forks and knives.
Cutlery made with PHA is biodegradable and is characterized by a similar durability and feeling to plastic.
Global cutlery companies in India, Thailand, Malaysia and other countries are considering PHA’s application, and CJ Cheiljedang is expected to expand the PHA business to the U.S. market.
CJ Cheiljedang is expanding PHA’s application fast.
PHA straws, which made their debut in some Paul Bassett outlets early this year, are expected spread.
PHA straws, which do not use petroleum-related materials, have a durability and feeling similar to those of the conventional straws.
Early last month, CJ Cheiljedang launched “Kleenex Washable Biodegradable Hygienic Towel” in cooperation with Yuhan-Kimberly Eugene Hanil Synthetic Fiber.
The product is made with PHA, polylactide (PLA) and bio-degradable materials mixed with pulp. It is the world’s first example of PHA being applied to hygienic products.
_냉동김밥 자동화 생산라인.jpg)
_비비고 불고기 김밥.jpg)
_해양생분해 플라스틱 소재 PHA.jpg)
