Global leader in Korean cuisine CJ Foods Oceania has launched its authentic flagship bibigo homestyle Mandu dumplings into selected FoodStuffs stores and Asian supermarkets nationally from late August in response to a surging demand for Korean food and culture in New Zealand.
bibigo is the leading Korean food brand across the United States, North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia. This move marks bibigo’s much-anticipated debut into the New Zealand market.
The release initially commenced at Asian supermarkets in late August, followed by New World and PAK’nSAVE stores around the country in September.
Launching bibigo in New Zealand follows the launch into mainstream grocery channels in Australia and its “remarkable success” of generating 1 billion USD in annual sales last year in the USA.
Initially available in both Pork and Pork & Kimchi flavoured variants, this launch is especially poignant given the growing popularity of Korean cuisine among New Zealanders. “Recent trends show a significant rise in interest towards Korean food with over 140 Korean restaurants now operating across the country,” according to the company. A well-known South Korean fried chicken chain recently opened its first outlet in Auckland, with plans to open 18 stores around the country in the coming years.
“In terms of Korean home delivery food, there has been a substantial year-on-year growth with services like DoorDash reporting increased demand for Korean dishes, reflecting the broader trend of consumers seeking diverse and exotic food options for home consumption,” the company said. “There’s also a noticeable increase in Korean food products on supermarket shelves, including popular items such as kimchi, Korean sauces, and snacks, reflecting a broader trend towards embracing diverse culinary options.”
In response to this trend, CJ Foods Oceania, the company behind the bibigo brand, is launching its flagship Homestyle Mandu Dumplings in New Zealand into selected Pak N’ Save and New World stores for the first time. These are the only Korean mandu dumplings available in mainstream grocery stores in New Zealand.
Homestyle Mandu Dumplings offer a blend of traditional Korean recipes with modern convenience. They are crafted with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring a high-quality and authentic Korean dining experience.
The Pork Mandu filling features premium Australian-sourced pork and onion, while the Pork & Kimchi dumplings include Australian pork, onion, and cabbage, delivering a savoury and well-balanced flavour. The pork is procured from reliable suppliers to guarantee freshness and quality.
“The ‘Homestyle’ essence of these Mandu is beautifully captured in their meticulously crafted appearance, reminiscent of hand-made perfection,” the company said. “Each dumpling wrapper undergoes an extensive kneading process—over 8,000 times—ensuring an exceptionally thin yet robust texture. Following a quick freeze after steaming, the result is a delightfully chewy wrapper that envelopes a generous filling. This meticulous technique guarantees a higher filling-to-wrapper ratio, a hallmark of bibigo Mandu, making every bite a flavourful experience packed with delicious ingredients.”
Managing Director of CJ Foods Oceania Eugene Cha says the launch of bibigo is well-timed to take advantage of a new wave of K-culture that’s sweeping the nation. “Over recent years we have seen ‘K-culture’ on the rise in New Zealand, notably with growing interest in Korean BBQ, K-Pop, and K-Cinema. With the desire to experience Korean cuisine at an all-time high in New Zealand, our goal is to spread the joy and flavour of our food culture with Kiwis everywhere, and this is just the first step.”
The range of bibigo Homestyle Mandu Dumplings include:
New World and NZ Asian Supermarkets (two SKUs in selected stores):
- bibigo Homestyle MANDU Pork Dumplings 250gm
- bibigo Homestyle MANDU Pork & Kimchi Flavoured Dumplings 250gm.
Pak’nSave and NZ Asian Supermarkets (four SKUs in selected stores):
- bibigo Homestyle MANDU Pork Dumplings 250gm
- bibigo Homestyle MANDU Pork Dumplings 500gm
- bibigo Homestyle MANDU Pork & Kimchi Flavoured Dumplings 250gm
- bibigo Homestyle MANDU Pork & Kimchi Flavoured Dumplings 500gm.