CJ Cheiljedang employees check sliced ham processed in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, last week. / Courtesy of CJ Cheiljedang



By Park Si-soo



JINCHEON, North Chungcheon Province — CJ Group plans to widen its market lead in the processed meat market by heavily promoting new products with less sodium and no chemical additives.

The company said the demand for low-salt, chemical-free premium products was rising among health-conscious people.

"More consumers are exploring ways to lead a healthier life," said Kwak Jung-woo, a marketing executive of CJ Cheiljedang, the group's food business arm, at the firm's ham and sausage factory last week.

"This puts increasing pressure on food companies to reduce the use of sodium and chemical substances. We have led the market with a series of innovative products. We will shake up the market once again with new products that will present customers with healthier life choices."

He said that CJ products contained between 1.0 and 1.5 percent sodium, less than products made in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Their products were also free from five major chemical additives for processed meat products, including synthetic sodium nitrite, sorbic acid and artificial favoring substances, he added.

Kwak said the company would launch new "innovative" products next year for young, health-conscious, trend-sensitive consumers, but did not give detailed information.

He said CJ Cheiljedang's market leadership would remain strong despite Korea's free trade agreement with major ham-exporting nations, such as the U.S.

"The biggest weakness of low-salted chemical-free products is that they spoil easily," he said. "But this gives CJ a big competitive advantage over overseas ham makers because our products are fresher."

CJ Cheiljedang launched its first low-salt ham products, branded "The Healthy Ham," in 2010 and has since created tastier, healthier ham with less sodium and chemical compounds.

The company earned 86.8 billion won ($77 million) from its Healthy Ham products last year, up 16 percent from 2013. It expects 116.7 billion won this year.

Experts said the demand for low-salt, chemical-free ham and sausages would continue to rise on the back of increasing consumption of imported premium beer, Western food, and the growing popularity of camping.