CJ CheilJedang Launches 'Gourmet Kkanpunggi'... Expands Chinese Ready Meal Lineup

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] CJ CheilJedang is expanding its lineup of Chinese home meal replacements (HMR) under the ‘Gourmet’ brand.

CJ CheilJedang announced on the 20th that it has launched ‘Gourmet Crispy and Moist Kkanpunggi,’ which delivers the taste and quality of restaurant-level Kkanpunggi. Along with the Gourmet Tangsuyuk released in March this year, the company plans to expand its lineup of Chinese fried dishes and grow ‘Gourmet Chinese Cuisine’ products such as Gourmet Jjamppong and Jjajang into a major category.

The Chinese dining-out market, estimated at about 7.4 trillion KRW, has grown approximately 15% over the past four years. Among fried dishes, Kkanpunggi is the second most popular menu item after Tangsuyuk. However, since it is difficult to make at home, people usually rely on dining out or delivery, which often results in dissatisfaction due to sogginess or cooling during delivery. CJ CheilJedang’s strategy is to attract demand for Chinese cuisine in dining out and delivery by emphasizing differentiated taste quality and convenience.

‘Gourmet Crispy and Moist Kkanpunggi’ maximizes crispiness through a ‘multi-heating’ process that adds baking after frying. Based on CJ’s milling expertise, a special batter for Chinese cuisine was developed and applied, allowing consumers to enjoy a crispy yet moist texture at home with about 15 minutes of air fryer cooking.

The Kkanpunggi meat is made from carefully selected chicken thigh meat, cut into large, bite-sized pieces. The sauce, developed with professional chef know-how, enhances flavor by stir-frying green onion oil with garlic at high heat and includes six vegetables such as dried chili, bell pepper, and onion to create a spicy and sweet taste. The sauce package uses a dedicated steam pouch, allowing it to be safely and neatly heated in the microwave without bursting.

‘Gourmet Crispy and Moist Kkanpunggi’ was first launched on the food specialty mall ‘CJ The Market’ and the fashion and lifestyle online edit shop ‘29CM.’ Through a branding exhibition in collaboration with ‘29CM,’ the company plans to reach younger consumers such as the MZ generation. Additionally, a Gourmet Chinese cuisine special set is being sold, which includes the sweet ‘Gourmet Roo Handmade Gelato Ice Cream’ and the woody-scented ‘Gourmet Roo Incense (air freshener)’ that pairs well with Chinese food.

A CJ CheilJedang official said, “‘Gourmet Crispy and Moist Kkanpunggi’ was created through CJ CheilJedang’s digital big data analysis and thorough market research, so we expect positive consumer responses in terms of taste quality, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. We will continue to develop ‘Gourmet Chinese Cuisine’ into a mega brand with innovative products that break the perception of dining out and delivery food.”