Armored Fresh

About Armored Fresh

Armored Fresh is a food-technology company specializing in plant-based, zero-dairy cheese alternatives, with origins dating back to 2001 in Seoul. The company began as Yangyoo, founded by Rudy Yoo, who later pivoted the business toward food tech after identifying a lack of high-quality vegan cheese options. Joined by co-founder Andrew Yu, Yoo established Armored Fresh as a dedicated R&D-driven venture focused on replicating the taste, texture, and meltability of dairy cheese through proprietary fermentation technologies using almond and oat milks.

The company formally entered the U.S. market in 2021, establishing its American operations in Fairfax County, Virginia, with a commercial presence in New York City. Armored Fresh has since expanded into approximately 2,000 U.S. retail locations, including Kroger and its affiliates, and has built out foodservice and direct-to-consumer channels. Its portfolio includes slices, shreds, cubes, spreads, and Parmesan-style products, including an oat-based line for nut-free consumers. The company also operates “Armored Grilled Cheese,” a Brooklyn restaurant showcasing its cheese meltability.

To date, Armored Fresh has raised roughly $28.7 million, including a $23 million pre-Series B round in 2022 to scale its U.S. expansion. The company continues to strengthen its IP portfolio, most recently patenting a grated-cheese manufacturing process that more closely mimics dairy production. With its global headquarters in Seoul and growing U.S. footprint, Armored Fresh aims to compete directly with major dairy manufacturers on taste and price, positioning itself as a leading innovator in next-generation plant-based cheese.