Would you recognise Kimchi if it hit you within the face? Virtually definitely your next-door neighbour would. They’ve been piling it into their faces prefer it’s going out of vogue. However they needn’t fear, Kimchi’s worldwide market share worth is rising at a CAGR of 5% and can hit $3660m later this yr. Tomorrow has a face and it’s lined in Kimchi.
So, what’s behind Britain’s insatiable urge for food for spicy fermented cabbage? Hallyu, the Korean wave.
The stratospheric rise in recognition of Korean tradition continues to have a dramatic impact on British tastes. From Ok-pop bands like BTS and BlackPink to Ok-dramas like Squid Video games, Brits simply can’t get sufficient of something and every little thing Korean.
And Korean meals isn’t any exception. Much less of a development and extra of a mainstay, like a (corn)canine with a bone the demand for Korean meals has surged to develop into the primary delicacies Brits need to eat extra of in 2024*. So, transfer over Sriracha, make manner prawn crackers, the Asian delicacies on everybody’s lips is “Korean” and there’s just one model you have to know in order for you meals that’s genuine, scrumptious, and filled with flavour – bibigo.
In contrast to others, bibigo, now out there in Sainsbury’s, brings to dinner tables throughout the UK genuine Korean meals, made with the fervour of a nation and centuries of craft, precisely as it’s loved in Korea.
Sainsbury’s have dived headfirst into the Korean wave, so buyers can now expertise a spread of scrumptious, genuine, high-quality bibigo merchandise, providing all of the comfort demanded by the trendy British client. These embody their wildly fashionable Seaweed Snacks, a spread of scrumptious sauces from Korean BBQ to Tteokbokki, with its iconic candy and spicy style, and the Ok-cuisine staple, Kimchi, which frankly tastes as nice as wholesome feels.
Certainly each Sainsbury’s shopper, from households dipping their toes into the Korean wave for the primary time to Korean aficionados satisfying their insatiable thirst, will have the ability to style the distinction with genuine Korean delicacies from bibigo.
CJ Meals, the mother or father firm of fast-growing bibigo, is the biggest meals firm in Korea with international gross sales of 11.1 trillion KRW in 2022, and is now main the globalisation of Korean meals, bringing the flavours of Korea to new markets.
CJ Meals U.S. enterprise has witnessed spectacular development over the previous 5 years following its acquisition of the main American meals producer Schwan’s Firm in 2019.
Q1 2024 noticed elevated gross sales quantity primarily based on the no. 1 market place within the Americas and maintained excessive development in new areas comparable to Europe and Australia.(gross sales exceeded 100 billion gained final yr, with Australia’s gross sales surging by 70 p.c within the first quarter of this yr alone). In the identical interval, bibigo’s Mandu solidified a No. 1 market share within the U.S. (primarily based on grocery channels), surpassing the gross sales of the second-ranked model by greater than threefold.
The uptake has been phenomenal: as of October 2023, Korean seaweed merchandise alone have been offered to 120 international locations worldwide, totalling £530million in exports from January to October 2023, a 20.4% enhance in comparison with the identical interval of the earlier yr – bringing the genuine style of Korea to meals lavers in all places!
Regardless of this ever-growing curiosity in Korean meals, a lot of it offered in British supermarkets lacks the experience, love and ‘bibim’ (the will for stability and concord) that’s on the coronary heart of every little thing produced by bibigo.
Jisu Han, managing director CJ Meals UK, stated: “Our merchandise are lovingly crafted with the identical recipes and substances which might be utilized in Korea. This ensures that each chew of a bibigo snack or meal is an genuine Korean expertise.”
“bibigo is on a mission to deliver the genuine flavours of Korea to the UK. Because the world’s No.1 Koreandumpling model, bibigo guarantees high quality like no different, bringing the most effective of Korean flavour and offering British shoppers with the genuine culinary expertise they’re crying out for.”
Obtainable now at Sainsbury’s.
