Unlimeat (Earthling Co.)
Made from Upcycled Plants
Profile
Unlimeat (brand UNLIMEAT; parent Zikooin / listed as (주)지구인컴퍼니) develops plant-based meats and other foods made from upcycled surplus grains/legumes and other “ugly” produce to reduce food waste, with an emphasis on Korean cuisine flavors and “clean-label” plant ingredients rather than only soy/pea. Core products include plant-based Korean BBQ (Bulgogi/“Sliced Beef”), pulled pork, dumplings/mandu, beef jerky, and frozen kimbap; the company also expanded into desserts in the US via “bbang” (oat cream buns, hotteok, plus earlier mochi cakes). Founded: 2017 (company/publisher info) and 2019 (Dealroom’s founding-year record). HQ: Seoul, South Korea; it operates a plant-based factory in Jecheon. Technology: proprietary extrusion-based processes to mimic meat texture and use of upcycled protein inputs. Ownership/stock/funding: no stock listing found in provided results; Dealroom reports total funding $10–50M with investors including KDB Bank, STIC Ventures, and PremierPartners. Scale (where known): Dealroom last recorded 2021 headcount <100; US retail footprint reported as 1,000+ stores (2024) and 3,000+ major retailers (2025). Key partners/customers named include Kroger (300+ store rollout starting May 2025), Albertsons, Sprouts Farmers Market, and organic/natural retailers (e.g., Berkeley Bowl, Mollie Stone’s, Lassens, Good Earth Market). Latest 2025–2026 developments: April 2025 rollout of bulgogi and pulled pork to 300+ Kroger-affiliated stores; June 2025 US launch of bbang dessert brand; UNLIMEAT also notes “Best of Show Awards 2025.” Based on these 2025 updates, it appears active as of 2025.
Sources#
- [About
– UNLIMEAT](https://unlimeat.co/pages/about)
- UNLIMEAT Rolls Out Its Bold Korean Plant-Based Meats at Kroger — 2025-04-30
- UNLIMEAT Launches “bbang,” a Korean-Inspired Dessert Brand, in the U.S. — 2025-06-17
- 언리미트 | 대체육으로 즐기는 맛있는 건강 식단
- Unlimeat — venture-backed company profile | Dealroom
- South Korea’s plant-based brand UNLIMEAT builds on strong growth in US, fulfils rising demand with new online store — 2024-01-02
- [Plant-Based Meat, Balanced Meal, Trendy Korean Dessert, K-Food
– UNLIMEAT](https://unlimeat.co/)
- Industry
- Alternative proteins, Food ingredients, Waste & circular economy
- Topics
- Plant-based meat, dairy & egg, Upcycled food ingredients
- Role
- Producer — “…proprietary extrusion-based processes to mimic meat texture and use of upcycled protein inputs. Ownership/stoc…”
Bio-solutions it supplies 0
Not yet cited as a supplier in a graded solution.
What they offer
Subsidiaries: Unlimeat Inc. (Delaware stock corporation with active CA filing; San Jose address)
News & status 6
- 2026-07 Latest status: The company was declared bankrupt by the Daejeon Rehabilitation Court on July 1, 2026, and is currently liquidating its assets. ↗ ↗ ↗
- 2026-09-30 [단독] 산은·IMM 참여 280억 원 조달했는데…대체육 ‘언리미트’ 운영사 파산 | 일요신문Earthling Company’s Unlimeat faced financial trouble despite heavy fundraising and plant expansion: the 2017 startup built production facilities and expanded overseas with major investments (including 28 billion won raised in 2021 and 28 billion more in 2021 …
- 2026-09-25 이마트, 대체육 판매 확대...채식 확산 트렌드 반영 < 생활경제 < 산업(IT/과학) < POP < 기사본문 - 라이센스뉴스Unlimeat (Earthling Company) is expanding plant-based meat offerings at 이마트, selling four Unlimeat products (Minces, Burger Patties, Slices for grilling, and Pulled BBQ) in 20 수도권 축산 매장, with plans to broaden flavor formats, increase in-store presence, and …
- 2025-01-20 [24.12.27]언리미트, 국산콩으로 만든 소이버터 2종 출시 NEWS - 언리미트Unlimeat (Earthling Company) announces the launch of two soybean butter desserts made with domestic Korean beans (non-GMO Taian native white beans), claiming to be the first domestically developed soybean butter in Korea, featuring blends of three bean …
- 2026-02-16 Why Korea will be the source for the best Vegan meat products - Vegan's BayUnlimeat (Earthling Co.) is a prominent South Korean vegan meat brand under Zikooin, growing rapidly with a $23 million funding in 2021 and a new large-scale plant-based facility. Its products, including vegan grounds, strips, and patties, are made from …
- 2025-04-29 UNLIMEAT Rolls Out Its Bold Korean Plant-Based Meats at KrogerUNLIMEAT (Earthling Co.) is expanding its mainstream footprint by rolling out two flagship Korean plant-based proteins—Korean BBQ Bulgogi and Pulled Pork Original—across 300+ Kroger-affiliated stores, signaling strong market growth and growing mainstream …
- 2025-04-30 UNLIMEAT Expands US Retail Presence with Plant-Based Korean BBQ Offerings at Kroger - vegconomist - the vegan business magazineUNLIMEAT (Earthling Co.) is expanding its US retail footprint with a Kroger partnership, adding Korean BBQ Bulgogi and Pulled Pork Original to 300+ Kroger-affiliated stores, signaling strong growth in mainstream, plant-based Korean offerings. This follows …
Network: owners, partners, peers
Ownership & investors 4
| investor | IMM Investment |
| investor | Primer Capital Partners |
| investor | Yellow Dog |
| subsidiary | Unlimeat Inc |
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