Binggrae, a leading a South Korean multinational food and beverage corporation that manufactures ice cream, milk products, and snacks, exhibited its range of authentic Melona Ice Bars at the SIAL show in Paris to target the European market. The Seoul-headquartered enterprise is well known for its diverse product lineup, including Banana Flavored Milk Yoplait, the first spoonable yogurt in Korea introduced through a technical partnership with Sodima.
The company began exporting Melona to France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom last year. Since May, it has been listed at Albert Heijn, a major retail chain in the Netherlands. The product range is especially popular in Asian grocery chains across Europe, such as Tang Frères in France, Go Asia in Germany, Amazing Oriental in Holland, and Oseyo in the U.K. The sales of Melona in Europe during the first half of this year have tripled compared to 2023.
Binggrae first began exporting Melona in 1995, targeting the Korean community in Hawaii. To expand its presence in the United States the company established a local subsidiary in San Francisco in 2016, bolstering sales and marketing efforts. Today, Melona can be found in major supermarket chains and wholesale operations such as Costco, accounting for 70% of the US sales of Korean ice bars. Binggrae has also established subsidiaries in China and Vietnam, with its products now sold in mainstream markets across these countries.
Melona enjoys strong sales in North America and Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, and is now exported to more than 30 countries. Flavors are tailored to local tastes and preferences, featuring varieties such as mango and coconut.
