CJ CheilJedang rolls out fully automated gimbap production

Rolls of gimbap are being processed through a fully automated production pipeline at CJ CheilJedang’s manufacturing plant in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, in this undated photo. Courtesy of CJ CheilJedang

Major food producer CJ CheilJedang has launched a fully automated production pipeline for frozen gimbap, marking what it described as an industry-first innovation in Korea, the company said Wednesday.

The mass production of gimbap, or Korean rice roll, has traditionally relied at least partly on manual labor. The new system, now operating at the company’s CJ Blossom Campus in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, enables a fully automated process — from placing ingredients on a rice base layered with dried seaweed to rolling, cutting and packaging.

Developed and tested for over one and a half years, the pipeline incorporates the company’s rice-cooking expertise tailored for frozen foods, along with differentiated temperature control for individual ingredients. A rapid freezing process is also applied to maintain product quality throughout distribution and storage.

The automation is expected to significantly boost CJ CheilJedang’s production capacity to meet growing global demand, while ensuring consistent quality and food safety standards.

CJ CheilJedang’s new automated gimbap pipeline packages products at the company’s manufacturing plant in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, in this undated photo. Courtesy of CJ CheilJedang

The move comes amid strong sales growth for the company’s frozen gimbap products under its flagship Bibigo brand. Since launching the product line in 2023, the company has recorded a compound annual growth rate of 130 percent, with cumulative sales reaching 8 million units.

Bibigo frozen gimbap is now sold in 25 countries, offering six varieties, including bulgogi, vegetable, kimchi cheese and tuna mayonnaise.

Buoyed by rising demand and improved production efficiency, CJ CheilJedang plans to further expand its presence in global markets, targeting major grocery retailers in the United States, Europe and Australia.

“Beyond simply increasing productivity, the new automated gimbap pipeline is a strategic investment to accelerate the global expansion of K-food,” a company official said. “We aim to grow Bibigo gimbap into a leading global K-gimbap brand.”