CJ CheilJedang launches all-purpose kimchi sauce for global food service market

Promotional image of CJ CheilJedang's new all-purpose kimchi cooking sauce / Courtesy of CJ CheilJedang

CJ CheilJedang will begin exporting its all-purpose kimchi cooking sauce next month to 12 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Brazil, Chile and Uzbekistan, targeting restaurants and food service providers, the food company said Thursday.

The sauce allows these businesses to serve authentic kimchi-based Korean dishes and is expected to reach local Asian and ethnic restaurants, hotels and canteen meal providers.

Developed using CJ CheilJedang’s patented fermentation technology, the sauce preserves kimchi’s authentic flavor while maintaining consistent quality across all products. It can also be stored at room temperature for up to 18 months.

CJ CheilJedang said the sauce is unprecedented because of the chronic problems caused by fermentation that affect kimchi quality after time, along with difficulties in distribution and storage. The company said the sauce “has finally opened doors to kimchi’s long-sought globalization.”

“The sauce will prevent K-foods abroad from having inconsistent taste and quality by delivering an authentic kick of kimchi and traditional Korean flavors,” a company official said.

“Food ingredient markets in the Europe, Japan and China have shown particular interest in our new sauce. Countries in the Middle East, where climate conditions have limited access to kimchi, have also been actively requesting it."

CJ CheilJedang last year launched a new department dedicated to developing versatile food ingredients for the global business-to-business (B2B) market. After that, the company’s chocolate churros, developed for McDonald’s Korea, expanded to McDonald’s restaurants in Hong Kong.

Chinese malatang (spicy hot pot) franchise company Yang Guo Fu and multinational food and beverage company Uni-President have also received the Korean firm’s consultation on introducing a new kimchi broth and kimchi-based noodles. Additionally, Korean restaurants in Europe and other Asian countries have approached CJ CheilJedang about menu diversification.

Citing global market analyst Euromonitor International, the company said that the global B2B food service market, excluding schools, military camps and hospitals, grew to 4,500 trillion won ($3.2 trillion) last year, marking a 40 percent jump over the previous five years.