Franchising

Bonchon bringing 6 units to Maryland, Washington DC

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March 9, 2022

South Korea-based Bonchon, a Korean fried chicken concept with 115 U.S. locations, has signed an agreement with JSM Development LLC to open six stores in Maryland and Washington, D.C. The first will open by February 2023.

"Bonchon is already a favorite mealtime destination for residents in Maryland and Washington, D.C., so we know that these restaurants will be a great success," Greg Buchanan, Bonchon's senior vice president of Development, said in a company press release. "Building strong relationships with operators dedicated to bringing our special food and culture to more neighborhoods will continue to grow our footprint across the world.

The chain, which has over 385 locations, serves guests in Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Australia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Several factors are driving Bonchon's momentum, according to Buchanan, who said it reached a 25.4% five-year franchise growth rate. Also, the average unit volume reached $1.39 million, and according to Black Box Intelligence data, Bonchon has outperformed all other segments and cuisines in its two-year metrics (2021 vs. 2019) with positive 23% same-store sales as of Dec. 25, 2021.

Bonchon, which translates from Korean to English as "my hometown," known for its hand-battered, double-fried chicken, made it's U.S. debut in 2006.