Unlimeat, a meat substitute company from Korea, is accelerating its entry into the United States market with the debut of plant-based Korean BBQ and pulled pork in the freezer sections of 1,500 Albertsons stores nationwide starting on January 5.
“Partnering with Albertsons to offer our unique plant-based foods to a wider audience is a testament to the industry’s evolution and increasing appetite for more diverse offerings,” stated Ryan Chung, Unlimeat’s Los Angeles-based head of international business.
Most plant-based products sold in North America are beef patties, chicken nuggets or sausages. Unlimeat’s range is distinguished from other faux meat brands through their versatility, as they can be stir-fried, grilled and used in both Eastern and Western cuisine. The items launching at Albertsons come in two varieties: Original, which is a traditional barbecue flavor, and Sweet & Smoky, a charcoal grilled rib flavor.
Unlimeat differentiates itself from other brands by using upcycled materials, which are edible products that typically go to waste during food production. For example: defatted soybean powder, a byproduct from soybean oil extraction, and rice bran, the husk that’s left when brown rice is milled. Defatted soybean powder is rich in protein, while rice bran is healthier than milled rice, as 90% of rice’s nutrients are found in the bran.
Upcycling and other utilization of food byproducts are increasingly providing added value for food manufacturers, quickly becoming a new trend in the industry. Global trade in upcycled food is estimated to have reached about $53 billion as of 2022, and the market shows an average annual growth rate of 4.6%.
Unlimeat has made rapid progress since entering the US earlier this year. The startup company’s plant-based Jerky Kickstarter achieved its target funding within three hours of launch and reached more than 1000% of its funding goal by the end of the campaign. Since then, it has continued to be sold on Amazon, drawing positive responses and a 4.5+ rating. Products are also offered to American consumers through several online and offline channels such as GTFO it’s Vegan, H-mart and other grocery outlets.
