“Dip it, melt it” ... CU expands its winter lineup of cheese-based convenience foods

[Financial News] With demand for warm, rich-tasting convenience foods rising in winter, CU is rolling out a series of cheese-based convenience foods and refrigerated home meal replacements (HMR).
According to industry sources on the 8th, CU will successively launch new products under two concepts: “Dipping Cheese,” meant to be enjoyed dipped in cheese sauce, and “Melting Cheese,” featuring melted mozzarella and cheddar. The company has broadened its product range from convenience foods such as gimbap, burgers, rice balls and toast to refrigerated HMR meals that can be prepared in a microwave.
The Dipping Cheese series features separate cheese sauces, including jalapeño cheddar, to pair with spicy dishes. Products include “Dipping Cheese Spicy Dakgangjeong” and “Dipping Spicy Pork Gimbap,” as well as “Deep Cheese Chicken Rice Bar,” “Deep Cheese Seasoned Chicken Burger,” “Deep Cheese Garlic Hamburger Steak Burger,” and “Mac & Cheese & Nachos.”
The Melting Cheese series highlights the gooey texture of melted mozzarella and cheddar. Key products include “Melting Cheddar Cheese Buldak” gimbap, “Melting Whole Mozzarella Tteokgalbi Burger,” “Heating Melting Corn Garlic Toast,” and “Melting Cheese Kimpitang.”
Refrigerated HMR products will also be launched in stages. The lineup will include Beef Cheese Gratin, Mac and Cheese Pita, Double Cheese Spicy Tteokbokki, Corn Croque Monsieur and Cheese Bomb Hot Dog, and will later expand to products such as Hot Corn Cheese Pita, Mac and Pizza Gratin and Full Cheese Burrito.
Bae-Geun Kim, head of the convenience foods team at BGF Retail Co., Ltd., said, “Cheese pairs well with a variety of ingredients and can create distinctive flavors and textures depending on how it is prepared, making it a highly versatile ingredient for differentiating convenience foods. We will continue to introduce distinctive products that reflect trends and seasonal demand so customers can enjoy a more varied culinary experience at convenience stores.”

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