BBQ, 'Post-Corona Type' New Store Boom... "100 Branches to Open Within the Year"

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] Genesis BBQ's newly launched small-capital startup store 'BSK,' which debuted at the end of last month, has created a sensation in the startup market by surpassing 50 contracts within just one month. BSK stands for 'BBQ Smart Kitchen,' a model developed by Genesis BBQ tailored exclusively for delivery and takeout in line with the untact trend of the post-COVID era. It targets the 20-40 age group aspiring to start a business with small capital. The stores are small-scale, about 8 to 12 pyeong (approximately 26 to 40 square meters), and delivery is fully outsourced to delivery agencies.

According to BBQ, BSK stores have exceeded 50 contracts within about a month since the official launch. If this trend continues, the 100th contract is expected soon. Currently, including six pilot stores operated before the launch, there are a total of 21 BSK outlets, with 15 opening in the past month. Considering it takes about 30 days from contract to store opening, opening the 100th store within this year is highly likely.

BBQ is greatly encouraged by BSK's success. A BBQ representative said, "Since early this year, we have been deeply considering and reviewing small-capital youth startups, including shared kitchen formats. We believe our efforts to incorporate various industrial infrastructures and values such as delivery app systems and open kitchens, beyond just small stores and small-capital startups, have paid off."

With the post-COVID era strengthening untact consumption, BBQ judged that BSK is suitable for the 20-40 youth generation familiar with such an environment, given the significant increase in delivery customers, the use of delivery agency business as the basic platform, and the choice of locations independent of foot traffic, making it more suitable for online marketing than offline. They targeted this group as the primary audience.

BBQ's strategy targeting young entrepreneurs is currently considered successful. According to BBQ, an analysis of new BSK store contract holders revealed that 70% were in their 20s and 30s, born after the 1980s.

Unexpected effects also emerged after BSK's launch. BBQ noted that, with the rise of untact consumption in the post-COVID era, the increase in delivery customers, the use of delivery agency business as the core platform, and the choice of locations independent of foot traffic favoring online marketing, BSK was targeted primarily at the 20-40 youth generation familiar with this environment.

However, upon opening, the response from existing family franchisees was explosive. According to BBQ, about half of the currently opened stores are additional openings by existing BBQ franchisees.

A BBQ representative stated, "Even in the early stages of BSK's launch, before sufficient promotion, existing family franchisees recognized BSK's potential based on the actual sales of pilot stores. We plan to further expand openings based on the success stories of those who opened BSK first."

Meanwhile, since late April, BBQ has been operating six pilot stores directly in Yongin and Yangjae, analyzing sales and profitability. The results show that BSK has recorded daily sales exceeding the expected average by 40% to up to 100%, achieving performance of over 3 million KRW per day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.