CJ CheilJedang Hosts 'Korea Food Forum 2023'

Held on the Theme of 'Global Growth Strategies for Korean Agrifood Startups'

CJ CheilJedang is partnering with the Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency to establish a collaborative platform for the development of Korea's agricultural and food industry.

At the 'Korea Food Forum 2023' held on the 4th at CJ Human Resources Development Center in Pildong, Seoul, key executives of CJ CheilJedang, the President of the Korea Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency, CEO Baek Jong-won, and startup representatives are taking a commemorative photo together. (From the top right: Lee Seon-ho, Head of Food Growth Promotion Office at CJ CheilJedang; Baek Jong-won, CEO of Theborn Korea; Ahn Ho-geun, President of the Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency; Kim Sang-ik, Head of Food Korea at CJ CheilJedang)
[Photo by CJ CheilJedang]

On the 5th, CJ CheilJedang announced that it held the ‘Korea Food Forum 2023’ at the CJ Human Resources Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, together with the Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency.

Under the theme of ‘Global Growth Strategies for Korean Agri-food Startups,’ the forum was attended by about 200 people, including key executives such as Ahn Ho-geun, Director of the Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency, Park Min-seok, CEO of CJ CheilJedang’s Food Business Division, and Lee Seon-ho, Head of Food Growth Promotion Office, as well as startups, investors, and related organizations in the agri-food sector. Notably, over 100 domestic startups participated in the event, using it as an opportunity to network with each other. The Korea Food Forum, held for the first time this year, was planned to provide a venue where various stakeholders in the food sector could read major industry trends and jointly explore future growth engines, and it will be operated as an annual regular event.

In his welcoming remarks, Park Min-seok, CEO of CJ CheilJedang’s Food Business Division, emphasized, “As confirmed through CJ CheilJedang’s journey so far, I believe that not only Korean cuisine but also the food tech technologies of domestic companies have the potential to greatly influence the global food industry. The connections made today on this journey toward the same goal will become your strong supporters.”

The forum featured lectures in two sessions: ▲Companies’ overseas expansion and sales strategies ▲Changes in the food industry environment and corporate growth strategies. Additionally, panel talks on ▲Global expansion strategies for food and startups ▲Korean cuisine in the world and the globalization of Korean food provided diverse insights to attendees. In particular, the process by which Bibigo has established itself as a beloved brand worldwide and its successful global expansion strategies attracted attention.

Speakers included Lee Seok-hyung, Partner at BCG, and Park Young-geol, Executive Director at Samjong KPMG. Panelists included Kim Suk-jin, Bibigo Brand Manager at CJ CheilJedang; Min Geum-chae, CEO of Jiguin Company; Ahn Tae-yang, CEO of Food Culture Lab; Kwon Jeong-ung, Head of Open Market Mart at 11st; Park Pil-jae, Head of Startup Overseas Expansion at Korea International Trade Association; and Eom In-yong, Team Leader of Venture Business at the Agricultural Technology Promotion Agency. Additionally, Baek Jong-won, CEO of The Born Korea, appeared as a special panelist, drawing attention from attendees.

A CJ CheilJedang official stated, “Based on Chairman Lee Jae-hyun’s management philosophy of creating future food and enabling ‘people worldwide to enjoy Korean food at least once or twice a week,’ we have been striving for innovation in the food industry and the globalization of K-food. We hope that the insights shared by next-generation innovative startups and industry stakeholders who nurture and support them will serve as a catalyst to enhance the competitiveness of the agri-food industry in the future.”

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