Assembled Brands, an asset-based lender for CPG businesses, closed a new asset-backed line of credit for Laoban, a CPG brand bringing Asian dumplings, bao buns and lo mein to freezer aisles nationwide.
Coming off an 8x growth trajectory in 2025 and accelerating well ahead of schedule through early 2026, the new facility provides the flexible capital framework needed to support Laoban’s rapid rollout across tier-one national accounts, including Costco, Target, Whole Foods Market and Sprouts Farmers Market.
“Laoban is a textbook example of a category leader translating cult-favorite enthusiasm into national shelf space,” Abby Jonathan, assistant vice president of originations at Assembled Brands, said. “Their operational discipline during this rapid growth phase has been remarkable. Because they partner with top-tier grocers, their inventory and receivables represent exceptionally strong collateral that we can unlock to keep their supply chain moving.”
Designed specifically for mid-market CPG companies that need financial agility without traditional banking friction, Assembled Brands tailored a custom financing solution built to adapt alongside Laoban’s growth.
“Entering this phase required a financing partner who truly understood the working capital mechanics of frozen CPG,” Joe Stilphen, chief financial officer of Laoban, said. “Assembled Brands stood out by offering a scalable structure that respects our autonomy, giving us the ultimate liquidity to support our retail partners and focus on long-term growth.”
Kunal Kohli, managing director at Assembled Brands, added, “We’re thrilled to partner with Patrick, Joe and the entire Laoban team as they continue to transform the frozen food category. Laoban is a great brand and has built incredible momentum across retail, and we’re proud to be the working capital backbone that lets them focus on what matters most: making incredible food and scaling nationwide.”
