CJ CheilJedang's 'Bibigo Soup Dishes' Become the 'National Home Meal' Responsible for Three Meals a Day

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] As more consumers are having their meals at home, CJ CheilJedang's 'Bibigo Soup Dishes' is emerging as the 'national home-cooked meal' responsible for three meals a day.

CJ CheilJedang announced on the 24th that Bibigo Soup Dishes recorded the highest monthly sales ever in August, reaching 20 billion KRW. This figure represents an increase of more than 10% compared to the same period last year, indicating that the demand for 'home-cooked meals' has grown, and Bibigo Soup Dishes, which offer taste, convenience, and a variety of menus, have gained popularity.

Looking at the annual performance, the growth of Bibigo Soup Dishes is even more remarkable. From January to August, cumulative sales of Bibigo Soup Dishes reached 140 billion KRW, a 30% increase compared to the same period last year, and online sales nearly doubled. In particular, 'dining-out style menus' such as Chadol Yukgaejang (beef brisket spicy soup), Jeonbok Miyeokguk (abalone seaweed soup), and Galbitang (beef short rib soup) nearly doubled in sales compared to the previous year, driving this growth.

Furthermore, the 'dining-out style menus' of Bibigo Soup Dishes showed an eightfold higher growth rate compared to 'home-cooked style menus' such as Kimchi Jjigae (kimchi stew), Doenjang Jjigae (soybean paste stew), and Sagol Gomtang (beef bone soup). This result shows that consumer patterns are expanding and shifting from simply eating conveniently and deliciously to enjoying menus at home that were previously eaten at restaurants.

The popularity of the dining-out style menus is attributed to their professional-level appearance and taste quality. The products were developed by selecting menus that are difficult to make at home but highly preferred when dining out. In particular, the 'Bibigo Chadol Yukgaejang,' launched in April, sold about one million units after release, receiving consumer praise for its large pieces of beef brisket and rich meat broth that match restaurant quality. It is regarded as continuing the reputation of 'Bibigo Yukgaejang,' known as the 'national Yukgaejang.'

The success of Bibigo Soup Dishes has played a positive role in expanding and revitalizing the soup dish category within the home meal replacement (HMR) market. Additionally, this year, competitors have launched a variety of new products, further expanding the market and increasing consumer choices. The size of the ambient soup, stew, and jjigae HMR market in the first half of this year grew by nearly 20% compared to the same period last year. Bibigo Soup Dishes hold an overwhelming number one market share in the 40% range.

A CJ CheilJedang official said, “As more consumers have all three meals at home, the role of Bibigo Soup Dishes, which provides relief from cooking, is becoming even greater,” adding, “We will continue research and development of various dining-out style menus that meet the higher consumer demand and expectations to lead the trend of ‘bringing dining-out meals into the home.’”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.