Korean plant-based innovator UNLIMEAT has announced the launch of a new dessert brand called bbang in the US.
Two plant-based, Korean-inspired products will initially be introduced — Oat Cream Buns and Hotteok. The Oat Cream Buns are a dairy-free version of the milk cream bun that has gone viral on social media, and feature a soft, chewy texture with an oat cream filling. The Hotteok is a traditional Korean street dessert featuring a blend of almonds, walnuts, peanuts, and sunflower seeds. Both can be microwaved or heated on a stovetop to provide a “bakery-fresh experience”.
The new brand builds on the success of UNLIMEAT’s gluten-free mochi cakes, which are available at over 300 Giant Foods stores. It is a strategic expansion into the Korean bakery and snack category, which is growing rapidly thanks to the rising popularity of K-food and Korean culture. The name bbang is derived from the Korean word for bread, aiming to convey the broad definition of baked goods in Korean culture.
“The next wave of K-food”
UNLIMEAT is best known for its plant-based meats and Korean-style meals. The brand entered the US market in 2022 and has now launched at over 3,000 major retailers in the country, including Albertsons, Sprouts Farmers Market, and most recently Kroger.
The new desserts will be produced at UNLIMEAT’s dedicated plant-based manufacturing facility. The company eventually plans to expand the bbang brand beyond desserts, and is already developing shelf-stable snack products such as bagel chips.
“Gen Z consumers are open to exploring global food trends,” said Jei Oh, Brand Director at UNLIMEAT. “With bbang, we aim to introduce more of Korea’s unique and creative dessert culture to the U.S. market and pave the way for the next wave of K-food.”
