CJ CheilJedang launches new Bibigo kimchi in Europe

Korea's leading food processing company CJ CheilJedang said on Monday that it has launched Bibigo sliced kimchi for export in Europe, which can be stored and sold at room temperature for up to 12 months.

The company said that it did not add fermented fish to this product in consideration of international consumer tastes. In addition, fermentation control technology was used so that kimchi made in Korea can be maintained at an appropriate level of ripening until it reaches the export destination.

According to the company's explanation, kimchi previously usually arrived in the destination country in a fully ripe state, normally one month after it shipping. However, CJ's fermentation control technology can maintain the acidity that affects the taste of kimchi and the texture of the napa cabbage in its original state for up to a year.

Beginning this month, the company will sell its products to Germany, France, Austria, Italy, and the UK, and plans to introduce the same products to Malaysia, the Middle East, Oceania, and South American countries in the near future.

In addition, it plans to use Vietnam as an "outpost" to expand the Southeast Asian market and supply kimchi produced in Vietnam to Thailand and Malaysia from next year.

Write to Kyeong-je Han at hankyung@hankyung.com