Ugrelypet, Supplying Pet Food Ingredients Through Upcycling ‘Ugly’ Produce

Minseon Kim, CEO of Ugrelypet

-Standardized Solution: Specialized in producing standardized powder formulations that can be directly integrated into existing manufacturing facilities.

-Nutritional Integrity: Utilizes a low-temperature processing technique that increases nutrient retention by over 25% compared to traditional high-temperature drying methods.

-Cost-Efficient Localization: Aims to replace expensive imported raw materials by utilizing domestic "ugly" crops that would otherwise be discarded.

Ugrelypet is a startup dedicated to re-processing discarded agricultural products into high-quality pet food ingredients for B2B supply. Led by CEO Minseon Kim (25), the company has already completed manufacturer interviews, sample production, and supply chain mapping, with a clear objective to replace imported raw materials.

Ugrelypet’s flagship B2B solution transforms ‘ugly’ produce—crops discarded solely for their appearance—into value-added ingredients for the pet food industry.

“Currently, the South Korean pet food market relies on imports for approximately 80% of its raw materials, leading to persistent issues with price volatility and safety”, said CEO Minseon Kim. “Meanwhile, 10% to 30% of domestic produce is discarded due to aesthetic flaws. Ugrelypet solves both of these problems simultaneously.”

The business operates through a three-stage structure: 1) Collecting discarded ugly produce directly from farms, 2) Processing them into fine powder using low-temperature drying to minimize nutrient loss, and 3) Supplying these ingredients to pet food manufacturers via a B2B model.

“By applying low-temperature processes, we have achieved a nutrient preservation rate that is 25% higher than conventional high-temperature methods”, Kim explained. “Our greatest strength is the ability to produce standardized powder that manufacturers can immediately use in their facilities. Since we secure raw materials at low or no cost, we can supply them at prices 20% to 30% lower than existing domestic options, helping manufacturers reduce costs while transitioning to localized ingredients.”

In the short term, Ugrelypet plans to secure market feedback through B2C pet treats. In the long term, it will aggressively target the import substitution market. Kim envisions Ugrelypet as an ESG-driven ingredient solution provider that creates simultaneous economic and environmental value by converting waste into high-value assets.

Kim summarized Ugrelypet's competitive advantage into three pillars: First is overwhelming cost competitiveness. By sourcing discarded crops directly from production sites, Ugrelypet secures raw materials at near-zero cost, enabling a price point significantly lower than current market rates.

Second is tech-based quality. The company has achieved a 150-mesh fine powder standard, ensuring high versatility for manufacturers while maintaining superior nutritional profiles through specialized drying techniques.

Third is validated B2B demand. Having interviewed 12 major domestic pet food manufacturers, Ugrelypet has confirmed an immediate intent to adopt its ingredients once price parity with imports is met. Furthermore, the company is already securing palatability data through B2C treat ODM contracts.

“Ugrelypet is not just about simple upcycling”, Kim emphasized. “It is a B2B ingredient supply structure where cost, quality, and demand have all been thoroughly validated.”

Regarding future plans, Kim stated, “We aim to expand our business step-by-step. Our immediate focus is on finalizing prototype development and market validation while generating initial revenue and consumer preference data through our B2C treat line.”

Established: Scheduled for June 2026 (Pre-startup stage)
Core Business: B2B supply of pet food ingredients via upcycled "ugly" produce; development of functional pet food products.
Key Achievements: Grand Prize at the 14th Kyung Hee University KVP. Highest Excellence Award at the 2026 NEXT UNICORN’S DAY (International Management Institute, FKI). Highest Excellence Award at the RISE Youth Startup Item Challenge (Hoseo University) and RISE Learn-cation (Jeju National University). Gyeonggi Housing & Communities Corp. (GH) Award at the 2025 GH Youth Build-up Startup Competition. Excellence Award at the 2025 Nexus Creatorium Academy (Kyung Hee Campus Town). Selected for the Student-led Corporate Problem Solving Project (Gangwon National University). Successfully executed startup funding projects at Kyung Hee University.

reporter jinho lee
jinho2323@hankyung.com