CJ CheilJedang expands in Japan with new dumpling plant
South Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang announced Thursday that it is building a new factory in Japan to expand production of its dumpling products, part of a broader strategic push to tap into Japan's growing appetite for Korean cuisine.
Backed by a 100 billion won ($71.5 million) investment, the facility, now under construction in Chiba prefecture, sits on a 42,000-square-meter site -- roughly the size of six soccer fields -- with a total floor area of 8,200 square meters.
Scheduled to begin operations in September, the factory will primarily produce the company's flagship Bibigo dumplings bound for shelves throughout Japan. According to the company, it is targeting the country's frozen dumpling market, estimated to be worth about 1.1 trillion won annually.
The move comes as CJ CheilJedang looks to ride the wave of Korean culture, which has expanded beyond K-pop and Korean dramas to encompass food and lifestyle.
During his first overseas workplace visit of the year in April, CJ Group Chair Lee Jae-hyun called the current surge in Korean cultural influence 'a crucial opportunity for K-culture' to deepen its global presence, urging the company's food business to seize the momentum.
The new facility is poised to boost Bibigo's production volume to a great extent while enhancing both the scale and quality of the company's operations in Japan. CJ CheilJedang currently operates four dumpling factories in Japan, following its 2019 acquisition of Japanese dumpling maker Gyoza Keikaku.
'By proactively building local infrastructure, we aim to harness the rekindled momentum of Korean culture and establish ourselves as a global food leader,' a company official said.
Alongside its broader global expansion, the company is also extending its manufacturing network in key markets such as the US and Europe.
Last November, CJ CheilJedang finalized plans for a new plant near Budapest, Hungary, slated to open in 2026. Meanwhile, construction is underway on an Asian food facility in South Dakota set for completion by 2027.
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