Sajo Daelim Joins Frozen Gimbap Market...Exports 72,000 Rolls Monthly

Exported over 155,000 lines to date
Starting this month, officially selling at US H Mart stores

Sajo Daerim announced on the 14th that it has launched three types of frozen gimbap featuring Korean recipes and has started exporting to the global market, beginning with the United States.

Since starting frozen gimbap exports in April, Sajo Daerim has shipped a total of 36 tons, combining the first and second initial shipments and additional orders. This amount corresponds to approximately 155,000 rolls of gimbap. Going forward, the company plans to export about 72,000 rolls each month.

Starting this month, the products will be available at the Korean-American supermarket chain ‘H Mart’ in the U.S., marking the beginning of full-scale sales. H Mart operates over 90 stores across the United States and is expanding its position as a platform where customers can experience Korean food culture, with K-food items like gimbap and ramen gaining popularity. Sajo Daerim plans to focus on expanding its global consumer base by developing various sales channels, including H Mart.

The frozen gimbap introduced by Sajo Daerim includes three varieties: ▲Tuna Gimbap ▲Yubu Burdock Gimbap ▲Mushroom Japchae Gimbap. These recipes are inspired by traditional Korean dishes. The packaging features a three-compartment tray that allows the gimbap to be cooked with a freshly made texture even after thawing.

The Tuna Gimbap offers a harmonious flavor created by combining Sajo Daerim’s high-quality tuna and vegetables. Targeting global tastes, the company also introduced plant-based gimbap. The Yubu Burdock Gimbap combines burdock and yubu (fried tofu skin) with a savory and slightly sweet seasoning, delivering both taste and nutrition. The Mushroom Japchae Gimbap, based on the representative K-food japchae, offers a special Korean food experience with the chewy texture of japchae and mushrooms.

With the growing global popularity of frozen gimbap, Sajo Daerim expects strong sales performance for its frozen gimbap products. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, as of May, the cumulative export value of processed foods increased by 9.5% compared to the previous year, with rice-processed foods including frozen gimbap showing a 42.8% growth.

Im Kwangseop, marketing manager at Sajo Daerim, stated, “Based on Sajo Daerim’s food development expertise, we have created frozen gimbap that captures the taste of Korea,” adding, “We will continue to focus on global trends and develop various products targeting overseas consumers to widely promote Korean flavors and contribute to expanding the base of K-food.”