1. Tell us about Bread:mell

Bread Mell is a bakery located in a small fishing village in Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. We began baking with the intent to blend the scents of fragrant citrus with bread, inspired by the anchovies abundant in the village, the cats that prey on them, and the garlic from terraced paddy fields.

2. What led you to make Yuza Anchovy Bread & Garlic Bread?

Namhae in Gyeongsangnam-do is the rainiest part of the Korean Peninsula, excluding Jeju Island. It’s a rugged but diverse region in terms of food. The sea is home to a wide variety of fish and anchovies, and the harsh terraced paddy fields grow garlic and spinach. Fragrant citrus trees grow everywhere in the village. We wanted to showcase Namhae through our products.

3. I heard you paid great attention to the ingredients of your award-winning product.

Our bread, fashioned after Namhae’s signature Jukbang anchovies and garlic is made from 100% domestic rice, organic citrus, premium butter, and fresh eggs. The cozy texture and aroma, perfect with a cup of tea, ice cream, or coffee, encapsulate the essence of Namhae.

4. Were there any challenges in your production or distribution?

The biggest challenge is the short shelf life. Since our bread, accompanying creams, and seasonings are made on-site for sale, diversifying our sales has been challenging. So, we continue researching and developing. 5. What did you learn from the competition? I realized that it was important to believe in the product. Rather than making a product just to sell, if you prepare them thoughtfully with the idea that they are something everyone, including yourself, would want to buy, good results will follow.

5. Is there anything you learned or felt throughout the contest?

We learned that trust in a product is the most important element. Rather than creating something just to sell, it would be more successful to put work into a product that can appeal to everyone including yourself.

6. What are your plans for the future?

The main character of Bread Mell, which has the image of a small bakery on Namhae’s seaside, is a black cat named “Tori.” We are planning and preparing products featuring Tori, along with our bread. Currently, we are crafting goods like sandwiches and griptoks. We plan to continue pop-up promotions and sales at retail stores across the country, and we’re paying more attention to and preparing beverages (coffee, tea) that pair well with our bread.