Bb.q Chicken banks on authenticity and diverse formats

South Korean fried rooster chain Bb.q Hen had a banner 12 months in the U.S. in 2021, growing from 51 models to 86 and enjoying a whole income maximize from $54.2 million to $76.9 million.

The all-franchised chain, which has additional than 3,500 eating places in 57 nations around the world globally, is poised to grow to 150 domestic destinations this calendar year and 250 by the conclude of 2023, reported CEO Joseph Kim.

“Bb.q stands for ‘best of the most effective top quality,’” he said. “We are dedicated to serving only the most genuine and mouth watering Korean fried rooster and [other Korean food]. Our aim is to give shoppers a style of Seoul.”

Founded in 1995, the chain arrived in the U.S. in 2014, serving a dozen different fried rooster flavors, ranging from common unsauced chicken parts and wings to “Cheesling,” with a powdered cheese topping, and “Gangnam Style” with a black pepper sauce, green onions, garlic and peppers. Other alternatives include kalbi type, mimicking the marinade for Korean grilled limited ribs and garnished with inexperienced onions and sesame seeds, and a minimal-time present now out there referred to as Maple Crunch — boneless or classic wings in a glaze of butter, garlic and maple syrup.

The chain also offers classic Korean dishes this kind of as kimchi fried rice and ddeok-bokki — a spicy stew of rice cakes and fish cakes with onions and scallions. Sides involve fries, onion rings and cheese sticks as well as fried dumplings, corn salad and pickled radish.

Franchisees can decide for the takeout-only Bb.q Rooster Express, the speedy-informal Bb.q Rooster Café, or the Bb.q Hen and Beer, which has entire desk assistance and a bar.

“This calendar year we’ll open our initial Bb.q Intelligent Kitchen area, or BSK for small, the place customers will purchase electronically and our workforce will position entire orders in food stuff lockers,” Kim added. “This signifies quicker company for clients and reduce labor expense for the operator.”

Kim characteristics the success of the past calendar year to the chain’s authenticity and its commitment to educating franchisees.

“These are also the two principal reasons why we are various,” he said.

“Many global food stuff brands adjust their foods to be a lot more American when they franchise in the United States,” he extra. “Bb.q Rooster does not do this. Our food is always authentically Korean. We mix our sauces the identical way in the U.S. as in our destinations in Seoul.”

In addition, franchisees are trained at the chain’s Hen College, which was opened in South Korea in 1999 for study and growth as very well as franchise training.

“Chicken College gives our franchisees the know-how they want to be prosperous,” Kim extra, expressing that the company has very long held the philosophy that it thrives when its franchisees do.

Kim said that, aside from the first BSK opening in 2022, Bb.q Rooster is on track to develop to seven new states: Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Oklahoma.

The chain is also launching a new internet site in the 2nd quarter, which Kim mentioned he hopes will bring in much more franchisees and shoppers.

Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected] 

Adhere to him on Twitter: @foodwriterdiary

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