Lotteria’s innovative K-burger wins ‘Franchise Grand Prize’

[Photo by Lee Seung-hwan]

The 14th annual ‘Maekyung Top 100 Franchise’ awards ceremony and the presentation of certificates took place on Tuesday at the Maekyung Media Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The event recognized the top 100 franchises in South Korea that provide exceptional services to consumers and contribute significantly to the national economy via job creation.

At the ceremony, 150 attendees, including representatives from the top franchise brands, gathered to celebrate the achievements. The awards were divided into six categories: Grand Prize, Excellence Award, Special Award, Overseas Expansion Award, Coexistence Award, and Innovation Award.

Maeil Business Newspaper Vice Chairman Chang Seung-joon highlighted the significance of the franchise industry, saying “The franchise industry is the backbone of our economy, impacting both upstream and downstream sectors. Korean franchises have recently rapidly expanded beyond Asia to North America and Europe, driven by the K-food craze.”

The prestigious Grand Prize was awarded to Lotteria. Founded in 1979 to develop burgers suited to Korean tastes, Lotteria has gained immense popularity with its unique offerings like the Bulgogi Burger, which has sold over 1 billion units over 30 years. The franchise’s innovative menu items, such as the ‘Squid Alive Burger,’ which sold 700,000 units in just 11 days, continue to capture customer interest. Lotteria is now aiming to expand globally, with plans to open its first U.S. location in 2025, followed by further expansions in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Mongolia.

Frank Burger and Jokbal Night Market won the Excellence Award in the large and small-to-medium-sized categories respectively. Frank Burger, which was birthed after research in the U.S. market, has opened around 700 stores in just four years, becoming a leading franchise in Korea. Jokbal Night Market, known for its clean taste without the typical pork odor, has grown to over 320 locations nationwide in seven years and recently opened two outlets in Canada.

The Special Award was given to Baedal Minjok. The delivery app has partnered with about 320,000 restaurants nationwide and has around 20 million users since its launch in 2010, providing services that surpass the limits of the dining industry and fostering cooperation with related businesses.

Tous Les Jours received the Overseas Expansion Award for operating over 460 stores in seven countries, including the United States, where it achieved 100 billion won in sales in 2023. Ediya Coffee won the Coexistence Award for its supportive policies towards franchisees, such as covering all advertising costs and providing free legal and labor consultations, building trust over 23 years. Jadam Chicken was honored with the Innovation Award for leading the health trend in the Korean chicken industry with its focus on food health and safety.

A total of 18 new brands made it onto the Maekyung Top 100 Franchise list in 2024, the highest number since 19 brands were added in 2018. New entrants include Salady, Gold Star Beer, Myeongryun Jinsagalbi, Choegodang Donkkaseu, Jeongjikyubu, Kodaeji, Baekchae Kimchi Jjigae, Life4Cuts, and CarNPeople.

Since the inception of the Maekyung Top 100 Franchise selection in 2011, 19 brands, including BBQ, Kyochon Chicken, CU, GS25, and Paris Baguette, have consistently made the list each year.

“The unique aspect of this year’s evaluation is the significant enhancement of the K-brand’s stature in the global market. Overseas market shares for chicken, pizza, and other Korean food brands have increased, with notable progress in meal kits and ready-to-eat meals,” according to Kim Jae-wook, president of Korean Academic Society of Franchising and the head judge of the contest.

Genesis BBQ Group Chairman Yoon Hong-geun, in his congratulatory speech, said, “The franchise industry serves 50 million customers Korea and employs around 1.5 million people, including small business owners and staff in the franchise sector. I sincerely thank all the attendees for supporting the franchise industry.”