New Pokemon bread varieties may be easier to catch

New versions of Pokemon bread released on Thursday. [SPC SAMLIP]

SPC Samlip released four new version of its Pokemon bread and increased supply for fans who are struggling to get their hands on the pastry.

The new additions announced Thursday include a mango cupcake, peach-flavored choux, milk cream bread roll and a red bean paste and butter sandwich.

Each product will also include a Pokemon sticker inside the package, the main reason behind the pastries' huge popularity. Over 10 million pastries were sold during the 43 days since their release on Feb. 24.

Pokemon bread was a sensation when it was first introduced in 1998, but was discontinued in 2006. Returning 16 years later, nostalgic fans have been scrambling to buy as much as they can. Some people have been lining up at convenience stores waiting for the delivery trucks carrying Pokemon bread to arrive and rushing in the moment they stock the aisles.

SPC Samlip said the new pastries will increase the supply of Pokemon bread products by 30 percent.

Although previous versions of Pokemon bread all sold for 1,500 won ($1.20) each, the new products are more on the expensive side. The cupcake retails for 3,500 won, choux for 2,000 won and red bean paste and butter sandwich for 2,200 won. The milk cream bread roll retails for 1,200 won, the only product cheaper than the original series.

The company also announced more pastries and desserts will be released with Pokemon stickers in the future.

With surging popularity, the stickers are often traded on online secondhand marketplaces. On Danggeun Market, a full set consisting of 159 stickers sold for around 800,000 won to 1.1 million won.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]