Seoul: South Korean food company CJ Cheiljedang Corp. has announced the commencement of exports for its new all-purpose kimchi cooking sauce to the global business-to-business (B2B) market. The company plans to begin local distribution next month.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the kimchi sauce is initially being distributed across 12 markets, including Britain, France, Japan, and Guam. The sauce, based on Korea's traditional fermented dish, is designed to simplify the preparation of kimchi-based dishes such as kimchi fried rice and kimchi burritos. It targets local restaurants, hotels, and foodservice operators.
CJ Cheiljedang aims to position the sauce as a professional solution for authentic Korean kimchi cuisine, steering clear of diluted or fusion-style K-food. The company anticipates that this B2B rollout will lay the groundwork for future global consumer retail launches. A company official emphasized the role of convenient B2B products like the spicy 'gochujang' sauce and the sweet and savory 'bulgogi' sauce in promoting authentic Korean flavors worldwide.
The newly developed kimchi sauce utilizes CJ's proprietary fermentation technology, allowing it to be stored at room temperature for up to 18 months. This initiative is part of CJ Cheiljedang's strategy to strengthen its global B2B business, which has been underway since last year. The company has collaborated with China's Yang Guo Fu, a prominent "mala tang" franchise, and multinational Tongyi Group to supply kimchi broth and kimchi noodles using the new sauce.
CJ Cheiljedang also plans to expand its market for authentic kimchi-based dishes to the United States and Oceania. The company currently operates 33 overseas plants, with 20 in the U.S., four in Japan, four in China, three in Vietnam, one in Germany, and one in Australia. It also manages 11 domestic plants and is constructing new production facilities in Hungary and the U.S. state of South Dakota.