CJ CheilJedang Enters Convenient Side Dish Market... Launches 'JeilAnju' Brand

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] CJ CheilJedang is entering the ready-to-eat anju (side dish for alcohol) market.

CJ CheilJedang announced on the 25th that it has launched a shelf-stable anju ready meal brand called ‘Jeil Anju.’ The company plans to lead a paradigm shift in the anju ready meal market, which has been dominated by frozen products, by introducing shelf-stable products with differentiated technology from competitors.

Jeil Anju incorporates the research and development (R&D) know-how accumulated through the production of shelf-stable ready meals such as ‘Hetbahn Cupban,’ ‘Bibigo Soup Dishes,’ and ‘Bibigo Porridge.’ By applying CJ CheilJedang’s unique raw material control technology, the products maintain the original taste, texture, and freshness of the ingredients even after high-temperature sterilization. Additionally, special attention was given to the seasoning to allow consumers to enjoy dishes from famous anju restaurants at home. A special seasoning was developed that cleanly removes off-flavors while enhancing spiciness and smoky flavors.

The newly released products include four types: ▲Soyang Bulmakchang (beef omasum and large intestines) ▲Boneless Spicy Chicken ▲Spicy Grilled Pork Skin ▲Spicy Fish Roe Stew, focusing on menus that are difficult to prepare at home with ingredients purchased from the market. CJ CheilJedang thoroughly analyzed consumer preferences in the anju ready meal category through 18 months of R&D and developed products based on this analysis, considering preferred menus, taste quality, and consumer trends.

‘Soyang Bulmakchang’ offers a spicy yet savory taste of special beef parts by adding a special seasoning sauce to beef omasum and large intestines with off-flavors removed. ‘Spicy Grilled Pork Skin’ features pork skin grilled twice to bring out the smoky flavor, combined with chili seasoning made from Cheongyang chili peppers and domestic garlic, replicating the taste quality of popular pork skin restaurants. ‘Boneless Spicy Chicken’ is cooked with oven-roasted chicken thigh meat and sweet potatoes in a spicy sauce. ‘Spicy Fish Roe Stew’ is made with firm pollock roe, refreshing green onions that add vegetable flavor, and crunchy bean sprouts. The price for each of the four Jeil Anju products is 6,980 KRW.

The domestic anju ready meal market was approximately 700 billion KRW as of last year, divided into cooked anju and dry anju. Among these, the cooked anju market size is about 120 billion KRW. Since the market is mainly composed of frozen products, there is significant growth potential for shelf-stable products. With the spread of home drinking and solo drinking trends, demand for anju ready meals is expected to steadily increase.

Meanwhile, Jeil Anju means a heartfelt anju that gives busy modern people time to focus on themselves and their families as they end their day. The brand slogan is ‘Time to Fill Your Heart,’ and the package design features a well-prepared table setting image based on colors reminiscent of the red sunset at dusk, matching the slogan.