Company builds 'Protein Nexus' platform, focuses on premium fish cake and crab stick products

An aerial view of Dongwon F&B's Jincheon facility, dubbed "Protein Nexus." [Dongwon F&B]
An aerial view of Dongwon F&B's Jincheon facility, dubbed "Protein Nexus." [Dongwon F&B]

Dongwon F&B announced Monday that it has completed and begun operating its second production facility in Gwanghyewon-myeon, Jincheon-gun, North Chungcheong Province.

The facility required an investment of 140 billion won (about $92.1 million) and spans 8,000 pyeong (about 26,400 square meters) across two above-ground floors. It houses a protein food production platform dubbed "Protein Nexus," which produces refrigerated foods such as fish cakes and crab sticks as well as home meal replacement items including fried rice and chicken.

"Protein Nexus" centers on marine protein, which is drawing attention as a food resource of the future. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, global protein demand is projected to surge more than 70 percent by 2050 compared with 2010 levels. That is what is driving Dongwon F&B's push behind the Protein Nexus initiative.

Dongwon F&B plans to focus on premium fish cakes and crab sticks with fish meat content raised to 80 percent or higher. The facility has a daily production capacity of 40 tons, or roughly 130,000 units. Advanced equipment has also improved quality in areas such as texture and yield.

The company also aims to grow exports. Its target is to generate 300 billion won in sales from the second Jincheon facility by 2030, while raising the export share to more than 30 percent. A company official said, "We will expand our presence in global markets on the strength of differentiated K-food offerings — premium fish cakes, crab sticks, pot rice, chicken and more."


siuu@heraldcorp.com