What MiLa does

MiLa (legal entity The XCJ Corp, dba MìLà) is a U.S. frozen Chinese food brand founded in 2018 in Bellevue, Washington by Caleb Wang and Jen Liao, originally as the restaurant Xiao Chi Jie. In 2023, following a $22.5 million Series A led by Stripes and Imaginary Ventures, the company rebranded to MiLa and pivoted to a direct-to-consumer frozen food model with national retail distribution. The company manufactures its products at two facilities located in Sumner, Washington and Monterey Park, California.

The core product portfolio centers on authentic soup dumplings (xiao long bao) across six flavors — Classic Pork, Savory Chicken, Pork & Shrimp, Pho Beef, Spicy Hot Pot Beef, and a patent-pending plant-based Vegan line — alongside five Chinese noodle SKUs (Spicy Dan Dan, Caramelized Scallion, Sweet & Savory, Braised Beef, and a Variety Kit), five dipping sauces, two Asian-inspired ice creams, branded accessories (bamboo steamer, dipping bowl set), curated bundles, and digital gift cards. Products are engineered to cook from frozen in 10-11 minutes without thawing, supported by a melt-free shipping guarantee. Notable proprietary technology includes a patent-pending plant-based vegan gelatin designed to replicate traditional soup dumpling texture using jackfruit filling.

MiLa operates a hybrid go-to-market: a Shopify-powered DTC e-commerce site (eatmila.com) with nationwide frozen shipping and a 15%-discount subscription program, plus retail distribution through seven major U.S. grocery chains (Walmart, Costco, Target, Sam's Club, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Kroger). The company also runs a corporate and group gifting program. Pricing is unit-based ($12-$45 per SKU, bundles up to $139.99) with subscription billing on a monthly/bi-monthly/quarterly cadence. The company claims over one million customers served and operates with 101-250 employees.

Name

MiLa

Legal name

The XCJ Corp

Website

https://eatmila.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

MiLa is a direct-to-consumer frozen Chinese food brand offering premium soup dumplings, noodles, sauces, and desserts. Founded in 2018 in Bellevue, Washington, it sells through eatmila.com, a subscription program, corporate gifting, and seven major U.S. grocery chains including Walmart, Costco, and Whole Foods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Frozen Asian / Chinese Ready Meals

NAICS

Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412), Frozen Food Manufacturing (31141)

SIC

Canned, Frozen & Preservd Fruit, Veg & Food Specialties (2030)

akta.pro primary industry

Frozen Ethnic & International Meals (CRADADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Frozen Entrées & Complete Meals (CRADADAA), Frozen prepared meals & entrées manufacturing (AFAKAHAA), Noodle Manufacturing (instant, ramen, rice noodles) (AFAKABAC)

Keywords

• Frozen chinese food
• Soup dumplings
• Chinese noodles
• Asian frozen meals
• Frozen dumplings

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellevue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase of frozen Chinese food products (dumplings, noodles, sauces, desserts, accessories) through e-commerce website. Products sold individually or in bundles at varying price points.
2. Subscription Revenue: Recurring subscription model offering 15% discount on all orders with free shipping over $80. Subscribers can customize delivery frequency (monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly) and modify or cancel anytime.
3. Corporate and Group Gifting: Bulk and corporate orders through group gifting program for team gifts and events
4. Gift Cards: Digital gift cards redeemable for online products in $10, $25, $50, and $100 denominations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MìLà manufactures and sells a portfolio of premium frozen Chinese ready-to-cook meals—centered on xiao long bao soup dumplings (six flavors including pork, chicken, pork & shrimp, pho beef, spicy hot pot beef, and vegan), Chinese noodle dishes (Spicy Dan Dan, Caramelized Scallion, Sweet & Savory, Braised Beef), complementary dipping sauces, Asian-inspired ice cream desserts, and cooking accessories. Products are sold direct-to-consumer nationwide via eatmila.com with melt-free frozen shipping, through major U.S. grocery chains, and via a subscription and corporate gifting program.

Product overview

MìLà is a direct-to-consumer frozen Chinese food brand offering a portfolio of premium ready-to-cook products centered on authentic soup dumplings (xiao long bao), Chinese noodles, and dipping sauces. The core product line includes six soup dumpling flavors (Classic Pork, Savory Chicken, Pork & Shrimp, Pho Beef, Spicy Hot Pot Beef, and Vegan) and five noodle varieties (Spicy Dan Dan, Caramelized Scallion, Sweet & Savory, Braised Beef, and Noodles Variety Kit). These are complemented by five sauce offerings (Sauce Trio, Chili Crunch, Ginger & Scallion Umami, Dumpling Dipping Sauce, and Black Vinegar), two ice cream desserts (Jasmine Green Tea and Rose Lychee), and essential accessories (Bamboo Steamer and Dumpling Dipping Bowl Set). The company sells curated bundles (Signature Bundle, Essentials Bundle, Dumpling Discovery Kit) and gift cards. All products are manufactured in Sumner, WA and Monterey Park, CA, shipped frozen directly to consumers nationwide, and available at major U.S. retailers including Walmart, Costco, Target, Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Kroger.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Classic Pork Soup Dumplings Steamed soup dumplings (xiao long bao) made with locally sourced 80/20 pork, pork and chicken-based broth, and high-protein wheat wrapper; 50 pieces per pack, cooked from frozen in 11 minutes.
• Savory Chicken Soup Dumplings Steamed soup dumplings filled with freshly ground, locally sourced chicken, shiitake mushroom, and chives in a savory broth; 50 pieces per pack, $41.99.
• Pork & Shrimp Soup Dumplings Steamed soup dumplings combining freshly ground locally sourced pork with Pacific white shrimp in a rich savory broth; 50 pieces per pack, $41.99.
• Pho Beef Soup Dumplings Collaboration with Seattle's Phở Bắc featuring beef filling inspired by slow-simmered Vietnamese pho, infused with onions, scallions, and cilantro; 50 pieces per pack, $44.99.
• Spicy Hot Pot Beef Soup Dumplings Limited-edition Sichuan hot pot-inspired beef soup dumplings with real chili flakes and peppercorns delivering signature málà warmth; 30 pieces sold as 3-pack, $29.99.
• Vegan Soup Dumplings Limited-time plant-based soup dumplings featuring patent-pending vegan gelatin and jackfruit filling designed to mimic the richness and soupiness of traditional soup dumplings; 40 pieces per pack.
• Classic Chicken Potstickers Pan-seared dumplings with freshly ground chicken, green onion, and cabbage filling; versatile 3-way cooking: boil, pan-fry, or steam, $32.99 per bag.
• Braised Beef Noodles Cantonese-style braised beef noodles with tender beef slow-braised for 4 hours in oyster sauce, chu hou sauce, and aromatic spices; ready in 10 minutes from frozen, $19.99 for 2-pack.
• Spicy Dan Dan Noodles Sichuan-style noodles with nutty sesame-chili sauce, ground pork, Sichuan peppercorn oil, and mustard greens; ready in 10 minutes from frozen, $35.99 for 4-pack.
• Caramelized Scallion Noodles Plant-based noodles with scallion-infused oil slow-simmered for hours, topped with crispy fried onions; vegan option with bold umami flavor, $32.99 for 4-pack.
• Sweet & Savory Noodles Beijing-style zhà jiàng miàn with rich fermented soybean paste sauce and ground pork; comforting sweet and savory flavor profile; price varies by retailer.
• Noodles Variety Kit Sampler pack featuring all three core noodle flavors (Spicy Dan Dan, Caramelized Scallion, Sweet & Savory) with 2 packs each for 12 total servings; $49.99.
• Sauce Trio Collection of three signature dipping sauces: Spicy Chili Crunch, Dumpling Dipping Sauce, and Ginger & Scallion Umami Oil; each 6.5 oz bottle, $34.99.
• Jasmine Green Tea Ice Cream Light floral ice cream infused with jasmine green tea; 16 oz pint, lightly sweetened, pairs as a palate cleanser with dumplings; $12.00 per pint.
• Rose Lychee Ice Cream Asian-inspired ice cream with refreshing lychee bits and gentle rose petals; 16 oz pint, lightly sweetened; $12.00 per pint.
• Bamboo Steamer Basket 100% natural bamboo steamer with two 10-inch tiers, each holding up to 12 dumplings; handmade, includes parchment liners; $29.99.
• Dumpling Dipping Bowl Set Two-compartment teal Tritan bowl with built-in chopstick groove, includes pair of chopsticks; microwave and dishwasher safe; $12.99 per set.
• Gift Card eGift cards available in $10, $25, $50, and $100 denominations; redeemable for online products only.
• MìLà Signature Bundle Complete collection including Classic Pork Soup Dumplings (50pc), Classic Chicken Potstickers (50pc), Spicy Dan Dan Noodles (4pk), Sauce Trio, Dumpling Dipping Bowl Set, Bamboo Steamer, Steamer Liners, Black Vinegar, Jasmine Green Tea Ice Cream, and limited-edition gifts; $139.99 ($88 savings from retail).
• The Essentials Bundle Starter bundle with Classic Pork Soup Dumplings (50pc), Sauce Trio (4 bottles), and Dumpling Dipping Bowl Set; $99.00 ($5.94 savings from retail).
• The Dumpling Discovery Kit Sampler pack with Classic Pork Soup Dumplings (50pc), Savory Chicken Soup Dumplings (50pc), and Sauce 4 Bottle Set; $120.00 ($11.94 savings from retail).
• MìLà Subscription Program Recurring subscription offering 15% discount on every order, free shipping on orders over $80, flexible delivery frequency (every 1, 2, or 3 months), and ability to modify or cancel anytime.
• Corporate and Group Gifting Program Bulk ordering and corporate gifting program for team gifts, client gifts, and events, accessed through a dedicated group ordering portal with personalized gift note capability via GiftNote.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million customers served
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Simu LiuminorOthers · 1 April 2023Actor Simu Liu joined MiLa's C-suite as a strategic advisor following the company's rebranding from Xiao Chi Jie to MiLa.
• Phở BắcminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeattle's first-ever pho shop collaborated with MiLa on the Pho Beef Soup Dumplings flavor development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Omsom: Omsom sells Asian pantry starters (sauce packets for DIY meals) via DTC — comparable to MiLa as a premium, Asian-American-founded, culture-led DTC food brand pursuing the at-home Asian meal occasion.
• Bachan's: Bachan's is a DTC-first Japanese sauce brand that scaled into retail and is a comparable premium, culture-led Asian pantry brand — analogous to MiLa's sauce line and DTC-plus-retail growth pattern.
• Fly By Jing: Fly By Jing is a premium DTC Chinese sauce and pantry brand — comparable to MiLa in the authentic Chinese premium DTC positioning, though it focuses on shelf-stable sauces rather than frozen meals.

Direct peers

• Ling Ling: Ling Ling sells frozen Asian entrées (dumplings, noodles, rice) across U.S. grocery chains, directly competing with MiLa for freezer-aisle space with similar Chinese-inspired product formats.
• InnovAsian Cuisine: InnovAsian produces a broad line of frozen Asian meals and appetizers (potstickers, egg rolls, fried rice) sold at mainstream U.S. retailers — a direct competitor for frozen Chinese entrée share.
• Bibigo: Bibigo is CJ CheilJedang's U.S. brand of frozen Korean dumplings, potstickers, and Asian entrées — the closest direct competitor to MiLa in the premium frozen Asian dumpling/noodle category across U.S. grocery and DTC.
• Wei Chuan: Wei Chuan is a long-standing Taiwanese-origin frozen Asian food brand with dumplings, dim sum, and noodles in U.S. retail — a heritage comparable peer for MiLa's authentic Asian positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Trader Joe's (Private Label Dumplings): Trader Joe's sells its own private-label frozen dumplings and Asian meals at very accessible price points, competing directly with MiLa in the freezer aisle for value-conscious shoppers.
• Whole Foods 365 (Private Label): Whole Foods' 365 private label includes frozen dumplings and Asian meals that compete with MiLa on the same retailer shelves at premium price points.
• MìLà competitor: Tasty Bite: Tasty Bite (owned by Preferred Brands International/Premier Foods) sells ready-to-eat Indian and Asian frozen meals across U.S. retail — an incumbent comparable in the broader premium frozen Asian/ethnic meal category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/eat.mila
• Facebookfacebook.com/thexcj

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MiLa