CJ Wellcare is a spin-off from South Korean food giant CJ CheilJedang, which also houses microbiome specialist CJ Bioscience.
The company showcased the brand called MACPlan at CPHI/Hi Korea 2026, which took place from took place from August 25 to 27 in Seoul.
Developed in collaboration with CJ Bioscience, the products consist of protein shakes, gummies, functional beverages.
“MACPlan is a wellness brand focused on the gut microbiome that applies MACs, a nutrient source for microorganisms, for the first time in Korea,” Seok Cheol Shin, Part Leader of Market Intelligence Lab Part at CJ Wellcare, told NutraIngredients at the trade show.
Unlike general carbohydrates and dietary fibers, which are mostly broken down or absorbed during digestion, MACs, the core ingredient of MACPlan, have the characteristic of passing through the digestive system to reach the intestines and serving as a nutrient source for beneficial gut bacteria.
According to Shin, the MACPlan Daily Protein Shake and MACPlan Biuum Gummy were commercially launched on major online platforms, including CJ The Market, Naver Brand Store, and Coupang on August 14.
The products will subsequently be rolled out at health and beauty retailer chain Olive Young, while a range of functional beverages will be launched in about a month’s time.
There are also plans to export these products globally in the near future.
Increasing accessibility to balanced daily nutrition
MAC is a concept proposed by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine in 2014.
While every prebiotic is a MAC, not all MACs are prebiotics—MACs maintain overall microbial diversity and abundance by acting as sustenance for a wide range of general gut bacteria, whereas prebiotics target specific beneficial populations, such as Bifidobacteria or Lactobacilli.
By combining the technological capabilities of CJ Wellcare Microbiome R&D Center with the proprietary precision analysis platform of CJ Bioscience, MACs have been applied and brought to market in the form of everyday products.
“Through this, CJ Wellcare has secured a MAC-based line-up that helps create a healthy gut environment, moving beyond its existing probiotics-centric portfolio. MACPlan is a brand that helps modern people lead a vibrant daily life by balancing the gut microbiome ecosystem.”
For instance, MACPlan Daily Protein Shake offers balanced daily nutrition by combining a precise amount of MAC with protein supplementation. It is available in three flavors—chocolate, peanut butter, and strawberry yogurt—to provide consumer with more options.
On the other hand, MACPlan Biuum Gummy is a supplement that aims to enable convenient MAC consumption. It is available in three flavors, namely prune, green apple, and gold kiwi.
“Starting with the launch of these shakes and gummies, we will sequentially introduce MAC-based products that allow consumers to enjoy both taste and health. Going forward, we plan to continuously expand our microbiome-related portfolio and strengthen expertise based on our R&D capabilities.”
