Operations

Bonchon same-stores sales up 5%

February 23, 2023

South Korea-based Bonchon, which serves double-fried Korean chicken, posted positive numbers for 2022, including a 5% increase in same-store sales — a strong follow-up to its positive 15% same-store sales in 2021.­ The company added 12 domestic units and 30 international locations, ending the year with 122 units in the U.S. and 409 total units worldwide.

"Our success in 2022 — the same year we celebrated our milestone 20th anniversary — comes from driving operational efficiencies, improving unit-level economics and increasing top-line sales," Bonchon CEO Flynn Dekker said in a company press release. "As we look to 2023, our focus is on improving back-of-house efficiencies with reduced ticket times, further improvement to the labor model and increasing development of Bonchon across the country and globally."

The brand plans to open 30 units in the U.S. in 2023, with 19 planned outside the U.S., including opening its first France location next month. In addition, Bonchon has over 100 units in its development pipeline just in the U.S.

Dekker said Bonchon will continue to invest in technology in 2023, with plans that include a partnership with Future Kitchen to deploy proprietary kitchen robotics for more efficient production. The company hopes to become the first restaurant brand in the U.S. to use the new technology.

Other brand initiatives this year will include an online ordering platform and app, a loyalty program and a product-driven calendar.