CJ CheilJedang Begins Full Operation of New Chiba Factory in Japan... "Local Production of 'Bibigo Dumplings'"

First Korean Food Company to Build a Factory in Japan
Dumpling Sales in Japan Up About 28% Year-on-Year in First Half
Collaboration with Itochu, One of Japan's Top Five Trading Companies

On September 2, CJ CheilJedang announced that its new dumpling factory, built in Kisarazu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, has been completed and has begun operations.

The Chiba factory, in which CJ CheilJedang invested approximately 100 billion won, is the first local production facility built in Japan by a Korean food company. The factory sits on a site the size of six soccer fields (42,000 square meters) and has a total floor area of about 8,200 square meters. It is equipped with state-of-the-art production lines to manufacture "Bibigo Dumplings," which will be supplied throughout Japan. Since 2020, CJ CheilJedang has operated four dumpling factories in Osaka, Gunma, Akita, and Fukuoka by acquiring a local company called "Gyoza Project." However, this marks the first time the company has established its own production facility in Japan.

Exterior view of the new factory in Chiba, Japan. CJ CheilJedang

Through the Chiba factory, CJ CheilJedang aims to accelerate its localization strategy by enabling more efficient procurement of raw materials and product supply, with the goal of scaling up its business in Japan. In particular, the annual frozen dumpling market in Japan is worth about 1.1 trillion won, and more than half of the market consists of "gyoza"-type dumplings, which are similar to Bibigo Dumplings. The company sees this as a significant growth opportunity. In fact, interest and demand for Bibigo Dumplings among local consumers have been rising sharply, leading to a 28% increase in CJ CheilJedang's Japanese dumpling sales in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. During the same period, sales from the company's overall Japanese food business also grew by about 27%.

The completion ceremony was attended by key executives, including CJ CheilJedang Vice Chairman Kang Shin-ho and Food Business Division CEO Gregory Yep, as well as officials from Chiba Prefecture and Kisarazu City. Vice Chairman Kang emphasized, "The Chiba factory is an important step for a leap forward and sustainable growth in our Japanese business," adding, "We will further accelerate the expansion of K-Food in the global market through continuous challenge and innovation."

CJ CheilJedang plans to foster the Japanese market as its core overseas market following the United States, further accelerating its global expansion. To this end, the company signed a business agreement with the food division of Itochu Corporation in Japan on the same day. The two companies will join forces to expand their businesses in Japan and other global markets. Itochu Corporation is one of Japan's top five general trading companies and owns a wide distribution network across Japan, as well as major brands such as Nihon Access, the country's largest food distributor, and the major convenience store chain FamilyMart.

A CJ CheilJedang official stated, "We will apply the successful strategies from the U.S. market, where we achieved the No. 1 position in dumplings, to Japan as well," adding, "We will continue the Bibigo Dumpling craze with products tailored to local consumer preferences."

Japan is one of the key regions where CJ CheilJedang is focusing its efforts as a new strategic area for "K-Food global expansion." Earlier this year, CJ Group Chairman Lee Jay-hyun visited Japan as his first global field management destination, stating, "The renewed Korean Wave in Japan is a crucial opportunity for the global spread of K-Culture, and already-prepared businesses in Japan, such as Bibigo, must not miss this chance." He also emphasized the need to accelerate localization and build global infrastructure to enhance competitiveness and become a "global leading company."

Currently, CJ CheilJedang's Bibigo Dumplings, frozen gimbap, and K-Sauces are sold through major distribution channels in Japan, including AEON, Costco, Amazon, Rakuten, Don Quijote, and Ito-Yokado. Notably, "Bibigo Gimbap," which was first launched in Japan among all countries worldwide in 2023, gained significant popularity, with about 2.5 million units sold last year, mainly through AEON and Costco.