Bonchon Bringing Six New Locations to Washington Metropolitan Area

Bonchon Bringing Six New Locations to Washington Metropolitan Area

Popular U.S.-Based Korean Fried Chicken Brand Inks Multi-Unit Franchise Agreement; Further Growing the ‘Crunch Out Loud’ Movement in Maryland and Washington D.C

March 09, 2022 // Franchising.com // WASHINGTON D.C. - Hear that crunch? It’s the sound of the Korean fried chicken wave expanding in the nation’s capital…a surge of the Hallyu movement that is sweeping through the nation.

Bonchon, the wildly popular Korean fried chicken restaurant concept with 115 U.S. locations, announced today it has signed a franchise agreement to open six locations throughout Maryland and Washington D.C. It will bring the brand’s world-famous signature menu to more residents throughout the D.C. metro area, which includes hand-battered, double-fried, crispy Korean fried chicken, with plans to open in neighborhoods throughout Bethesda, Wheaton and Silver Spring. JSM Development, LLC will be spearheading the development of the restaurants. The first location is expected to open by February 2023.

This announcement comes at an exciting time for the brand, which has 385-plus units worldwide including in the countries of Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Australia, Thailand and Vietnam. Bonchon recently announced it is ramping up its growth initiative in key cities across the United States, including the Midwest, Northeast, Western and Southern markets.

“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,” said Greg Buchanan, senior vice president of development at Bonchon. “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.”

In addition to the brand’s growth planned for the Maryland and Washington D.C. market, there are several other factors driving Bonchon’s impressive momentum, such as reaching a 25.4%* five-year franchise growth rate and securing several commitments from franchise groups. Also notable, current average unit volume has reached $1.39 million** and according to Black Box Intelligence™ data, Bonchon has consistently 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. The brand has displayed its perseverance and the ability it has to thrive in all market conditions.

As its unwavering commitment to strategic expansion continues and as Bonchon locations sustain consistent sales growth, multi-unit operators have placed a high priority on adding the concept into their portfolios. An ideal Bonchon franchise candidate has restaurant experience, is dedicated to operational excellence and maintains a commitment to customer service and product quality.

Bonchon, which translates from Korean to English as “my hometown,” is known for its signature Korean fried chicken that is hand battered, double-fried to achieve its signature, crave-worthy crunch. Every piece of chicken is hand brushed to make each bite perfectly flavorful. Born in Busan, South Korea in 2002, Bonchon’s founder Jinduk Seo dreamed of sharing his favorite flavors with the world. In 2006, U.S. fans were able to Crunch Out Loud with the global sensation as the brand continued to expand across the country.

For information on franchising with Bonchon, visit franchising.bonchon.com.

About Bonchon

Bonchon is a global brand of fast-casual dining restaurants known for distinctive Korean double-fried chicken, Asian fusion cuisine, and Korean specialties. Born in Busan, South Korea in 2002, the concept was established in the heart of New York City in 2006. Bonchon sets out to have its fans “Crunch Out Loud” by sharing the joy of hand-battered, double-fried, crazy crispy Korean fried chicken with the world.

The brand has earned several accolades – it was recognized by Business Insider as “the gold standard for fried chicken” as well as included on Nation’s Restaurant News 2021 “Top 500 Restaurants”, Fast Casual Magazine’s 2021 “Top 100 Movers & Shakers” and Entrepreneur’s 2021 “Franchise 500 List.” Bonchon is positioned for strategic growth and has outlined an aggressive five year expansion plan, aimed at having 400 locations in the U.S. by 2026.

For more information about Bonchon, visit bonchon.com. To learn more about its franchise opportunities, visit franchising.bonchon.com.

*5 year growth rate is based on number of units for the year ended December 31, 2021.

**This amount reflects the average annual Gross Revenues for the 67 out of 104 franchised Bonchon Restaurants in the system that were in operation from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 '('each a “Mature Restaurant”')', as published in Item 19 of our February 26, 2021 Franchise Disclosure Document.

SOURCE Bonchon

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Media Contact:

Sarah Lisewski 
All Points PR
Office: 847-897-7462 
slisewski@allpointspr.com

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