CJ CheilJedang
South Korean multinational food and biotechnology company and a core subsidiary of CJ Group.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
CJ CheilJedang Corporation is a South Korean multinational company headquartered in Seoul and one of the principal operating businesses of CJ Group. Its activities span packaged food, food ingredients, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and related food and feed applications. The company is best known internationally for Korean and Asian food products sold under brands such as Bibigo, Beksul, Gourmet, and Hetbahn, while its domestic portfolio also covers staples, seasonings, frozen and chilled foods, ambient products, and convenience-oriented meals. The company began in August 1953 as Cheil Jedang, a sugar and flour manufacturer. It was established as the first manufacturing business of Samsung Group and initially developed around basic food commodities and ingredients. Over time, its activities expanded beyond sugar and flour into a broader food-production platform, including processed foods, seasonings, oils, starches, amino acids, and other industrial or nutritional ingredients. A major corporate turning point came in July 1993, when Cheil Jedang separated from Samsung and began operating with independent management. The business subsequently developed into part of a broader life-and-culture group, with activities extending into food service and entertainment. In 1996 it became the Cheil Jedang Group, and the formal separation from Samsung Group was completed in February 1997. In October 2002, the wider group adopted the CJ identity. A further restructuring in September 2007 created CJ CheilJedang Co., Ltd. as the food-oriented operating company beneath CJ Group, which became the group-level holding structure for businesses spanning food, biotechnology, entertainment, media, home shopping, and logistics. CJ CheilJedang has pursued international growth through exports, overseas offices, local production, and acquisitions. Its packaged food products are distributed in more than 100 countries, and the company maintains an international presence in markets including the United States, China, Vietnam, Japan, and Germany. The global expansion strategy has particularly emphasized Korean food categories that can be adapted to local retail and eating habits. Bibigo has become the most visible example of this approach, with mandu and other Korean-inspired convenience foods serving as important international products. The company has also used acquisitions to broaden its North American manufacturing and distribution capabilities. In 2018 it acquired Kahiki Foods, a Columbus, Ohio-based producer associated with frozen Asian food. In 2019 it acquired Schwan's Company, a major United States food manufacturer based in Minnesota. These transactions strengthened CJ CheilJedang's access to American production, retail relationships, and frozen-food capabilities. Today, CJ CheilJedang combines consumer food brands with a large ingredients and biotechnology business. Its food activities include ambient, chilled, frozen, and home-meal-replacement products. Its biotechnology and ingredient operations include products such as monosodium glutamate and lysine, as well as other processed-food, nutritional, and animal-feed inputs. This combination gives the company both a consumer-facing brand portfolio and business-to-business manufacturing capabilities.
History
CJ CheilJedang originated in August 1953 as Cheil Jedang, a sugar and flour manufacturer established within Samsung Group. It was Samsung's first manufacturing business and represented the group's initial move into industrial food production. The early company focused on staple commodities, but its capabilities and product range gradually widened into food ingredients, seasonings, processed foods, and other manufactured food categories. In July 1993, Cheil Jedang was separated from Samsung and began operating with independent management. This change allowed the business to pursue a broader corporate direction beyond its original manufacturing role. During the 1990s, the company moved into food service and entertainment as part of the development of a wider life-and-culture business group. In 1996, the organization became known as the Cheil Jedang Group, while the formal separation from Samsung Group was completed in February 1997. The wider organization adopted the CJ identity in October 2002, when the group was launched under the CJ name and the official corporate name changed to CJ Co., Ltd. The group subsequently developed several major business areas, including food and food service, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, entertainment and media, and home shopping and logistics. In September 2007, CJ Co., Ltd. was separated again into a business holding company and the food operating company was renamed CJ CheilJedang Co., Ltd. CJ Group became the holding structure for the broader collection of businesses, while CJ CheilJedang was placed within the Food & Food Service area. The company expanded its food portfolio from basic ingredients into ambient, chilled, frozen, and convenience-oriented packaged foods. Brands such as Beksul, Bibigo, Gourmet, and Hetbahn helped give the company distinct consumer identities across staples, Korean foods, prepared meals, and convenience products. Bibigo became especially important to international growth through products such as Korean dumplings, which could be distributed through mainstream frozen-food channels while retaining a connection to Korean cuisine. Internationalization became a central part of the company's development. CJ CheilJedang established or operated offices and business activities in markets including the United States, China, Vietnam, Japan, and Germany, while exporting packaged products to more than 100 countries. The company combined exports with local manufacturing and acquisitions, allowing it to adapt products and supply chains to regional markets. In 2018, CJ CheilJedang acquired Kahiki Foods in the United States. Kahiki's base in Columbus, Ohio, added food-production capabilities relevant to Asian and frozen foods. In 2019, CJ CheilJedang acquired Schwan's Company, a Minnesota-based food manufacturer. Schwan's expanded CJ's presence in the United States and supported the company's frozen-food, manufacturing, and distribution ambitions. Alongside consumer foods, CJ CheilJedang retained a substantial food-ingredient and biotechnology role. Its activities include sugar, wheat, oil, seasonings, monosodium glutamate, lysine, processed-food inputs, and animal-feed products. The company's present identity therefore combines a consumer brand house with business-to-business ingredient and biotechnology operations, supported by CJ Group's wider international network.
- 2019
Schwan's Company acquisition
[1]CJ CheilJedang acquires United States food manufacturer Schwan's Company, strengthening its American food and frozen-food platform.
- 2018
Kahiki Foods acquisition
[1]CJ CheilJedang acquires Kahiki Foods in the United States, adding North American food-manufacturing capabilities.
- 2007
CJ CheilJedang becomes the food operating company
[1]In September, the food company is renamed CJ CheilJedang Co., Ltd., while CJ Group becomes the holding structure for the broader group.
- 2002
CJ Group is launched
[1]The wider group adopts the CJ name in October, marking the development of a group spanning food, biotechnology, entertainment, media, and other businesses.
- 1997
Formal Samsung separation is completed
[1]The formal separation from Samsung Group is completed in February.
- 1996
Cheil Jedang Group is formed
[1]The organization adopts the Cheil Jedang Group identity as it develops beyond its original food-manufacturing base.
- 1993
Separation from Samsung begins
[1]Cheil Jedang is spun off from Samsung in July and begins operating under independent management.
- 1953
Cheil Jedang is founded
[1]Cheil Jedang is established in August as a sugar and flour manufacturer and becomes Samsung Group's first manufacturing business.
Products and positioning
A vertically broad Korean food and biotechnology company that combines mass-market packaged foods, globally marketed Korean cuisine, food ingredients, and industrial biotechnology.
Global Korean packaged food
Bibigo
Bibigo is CJ CheilJedang's internationally prominent Korean-food brand. Its portfolio includes mandu, or Korean dumplings, together with other packaged Korean and Asian-inspired foods. The brand is designed for international retail and convenience, translating recognizable Korean dishes into frozen, chilled, and other packaged formats. Bibigo has been central to the company's effort to make Korean food accessible through mainstream food channels outside South Korea.
Staples and cooking ingredients
Beksul
Beksul is a CJ CheilJedang food brand associated with household cooking staples and ingredients. Its role reflects the company's historical base in sugar, flour, and other basic food products, while the broader portfolio includes ingredients used in everyday Korean cooking and baking. Beksul serves the domestic consumer market and represents the company's continuing presence in foundational pantry categories.
Packaged and prepared foods
Gourmet
Gourmet is one of the packaged-food brands identified with CJ CheilJedang. It sits within the company's prepared and convenience-oriented food activities, which include ambient, chilled, and frozen products. Specific product lines and current market availability vary by country, so the brand is best understood as part of CJ CheilJedang's broader consumer-food portfolio rather than a single product category.
Convenience and ready-to-eat foods
Hetbahn
Hetbahn is a CJ CheilJedang brand associated with convenient packaged meals, particularly ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare food formats. It illustrates the company's move from commodity ingredients into branded convenience foods and home-meal-replacement products. The brand supports CJ CheilJedang's focus on shelf-stable and convenience-oriented eating occasions.
Business-to-business ingredients and biotechnology
Food ingredients and biotechnology products
Beyond consumer brands, CJ CheilJedang manufactures food ingredients and biotechnology products. The documented range includes sugar, wheat and oil-related products, seasonings, monosodium glutamate, lysine, processed-food inputs, and animal-feed products. These activities supply industrial customers as well as supporting the company's own packaged-food operations, giving CJ CheilJedang a substantial business-to-business dimension.
Controversies
2020
CJ CheilJedang sues Daesang over lysine patent
CJ CheilJedang filed a 10 billion won lawsuit against Daesang in September, alleging that Daesang infringed its patent for a lysine production process. The case is being reviewed at the Seoul Central District Court; the article reports the allegation and does not state a court determination.
Brand decisions
2019
Acquisition of Schwan's CompanyM&ABackground
CJ CheilJedang was expanding its global consumer-food business and strengthening its position in the United States.
Action taken
The company acquired Schwan's Company, a food manufacturer headquartered in Minnesota.
Aftermath
Schwan's added American manufacturing, distribution, and frozen-food capabilities to CJ CheilJedang's international platform.
2018
Acquisition of Kahiki FoodsM&ABackground
CJ CheilJedang was pursuing international growth in packaged and frozen foods and sought additional North American production capabilities.
Action taken
The company acquired Kahiki Foods, a food manufacturer based in Columbus, Ohio.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded CJ CheilJedang's United States manufacturing presence and supported its Asian and frozen-food activities.
2007
Creation of CJ CheilJedang as the food operating companyStrategyBackground
CJ Group had developed businesses across food, biotechnology, entertainment, media, home shopping, and logistics.
Action taken
CJ Co., Ltd. was separated into a business holding company and the food business was renamed CJ CheilJedang Co., Ltd.
Aftermath
CJ CheilJedang became the group's principal food and food-service operating company, while CJ Group served as the holding structure for the wider portfolio.
1993
Spin-off from Samsung and move to independent managementStrategyBackground
Cheil Jedang had originated as Samsung Group's first manufacturing business and was historically associated with staple food production.
Action taken
The company was spun off from Samsung in July and began operating with independent management, creating the basis for a broader corporate strategy.
Aftermath
The separation preceded the company's expansion into food service, entertainment, branded packaged foods, and biotechnology, and ultimately led to the formation of the CJ Group structure.
Recent events
Reported
CJ CheilJedang sues Daesang over lysine patent[2]
CJ CheilJedang filed a 10 billion won lawsuit against Daesang in September, alleging that Daesang infringed its patent for a lysine production process. The case is being reviewed at the Seoul Central District Court; the article reports the allegation and does not state a court determination.
Sources2 sources
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