Most plant-based meats in the US have centered around American staples like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and sausages. But there’s a world of meat consumption out there, and some of the most popular meat dishes are ones many Americans may have never even tried.

In recent years, South Korea has seen great success exporting its culture around the world, with mega-popular K-dramas like Squid Game and The Parasite, K-pop like BTS, and yes, K-food like bibimbap. Now, South Korean plant-based meat player UNLIMEAT is bringing its twist on K-meat to thousands of US supermarkets. Already, the company’s Korean-style alt-meats have been sold throughout Asia, including at Starbucks, Subway, Domino’s, and more. And since they broke into the US market with a giant Times Square ad in 2022, the company is now making inroads into the American diet.

With Korean-themed frozen products like bulgogi, pulled pork, and kimbap tuna, the company is betting that Americans will welcome new alt-meat offerings into their homes.

In this episode, we talk with UNLIMEAT Co-CEO Ryan Chung, who’s in charge of the American market for the young and growing company. While the brand was started in 2019, they’ve already raised well over $20 million USD, built a factory in Korea, and are shipping around the world. 

As you’ll hear, we discuss the challenges plant-based meat is facing these days and what might be done to overcome them, along with predictions for what the meat market may look like in 15 years. It’s a compelling conversation with a leader in the space who’s seeking to change the face of the alt-meat movement as we know it. 

Discussed in this episode

• Ryan recommends reading The Innovators

• Paul recommends reading Quirky, whose author Melissa Schilling is a past guest on this show!

• Paul’s photo of Quorn being marketed as essentially price parity with chicken in a London KFC.

• UNLIMEAT’s partnership with Just Egg

• UNLIMEAT is available at Sprouts, Giant, Albertsons, on Amazon, and more.

More about Ryan Chung

Ryan Chung is a Co-CEO at UNLIMEAT, where Ryan also holds the titles of Head of International and Chief Strategy Officer. Ryan previously served as the Chief Operating Officer at BriteBelly and YBRAIN. He also worked at Tesla, handling various aspects of business operations. Ryan has a background in M&A from roles at Samsung NEXT and PwC, encompassing due diligence, post-deal value capture, and divestiture planning. With industry experience in technology, automotive, industrials, aerospace & defense, and consumer sectors, Ryan's expertise in operational strategy, new product development, and strategic analysis is well-rounded. Ryan holds an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and a BA in Economics, International Relations, and Business Administration from Boston University.