Daesang Corp., South Korea’s leading food manufacturer, announced the completion of two new plants in Vietnam to scale up production of meal kits, kimchi, and dried seaweed. This expansion is part of Daesang’s strategic efforts to strengthen its presence in the Vietnamese market.
The new plant in Hải Dương increases Daesang Vietnam’s annual capacity by 40%, introducing a room-temperature manufacturing line for pre-prepared meals, which have significant growth potential. This facility will also enhance the production of dried seaweed, a key product for Daesang, which holds more than half of Vietnam’s seaweed market under its global food brand O’food. The company built its first Hải Dương plant in 2020.
In Hưng Yên, Daesang Duc Viet’s second plant will more than double its production capacity. This facility focuses on manufacturing processed foods such as sausages, and will now include meal kits for spring rolls and bánh bao, along with processed meat and Jongga Kimchi. Bánh bao, a popular Vietnamese breakfast item, will be offered in three flavors, including Korean barbeque bulgogi.
The construction of these plants involved an investment of 30 billion won ($22 million) each. Last year, Daesang achieved over 200 billion won ($145 million) in sales of food products and condiments in Vietnam, nearly doubling its revenue from 2017. The company’s range of products, including kimchi seasoning and meal kits for street foods like tteokbokki and hot dogs, is gaining popularity in the region.
Daesang also plans to produce three types of room-temperature spaghetti sauce and introduce frozen spring rolls with pizza flavor and localized recipes under the O’food brand.
Daesang established its first subsidiary in Vietnam in 1994 and built a factory in Viet Tri, near Hanoi, in 1995 to produce its signature Miwon seasoning. The acquisition of Duc Viet Food in 2016 marked Daesang’s expansion into Vietnam’s processed meat market.
CEO Lee Kyoo-bok of Daesang stated, “With these new facilities, we are poised to lead the food market in Vietnam and cater to the growing demand for diverse and high-quality food products.”
The expansion highlights Daesang’s commitment to leveraging local opportunities and its vision for long-term growth in Southeast Asia’s dynamic food market.
