Insider Spotlight
Long anchored by quick service icons such as Chickenjoy, JFC is now increasing its exposure to experiential and communal dining concepts through the addition of Shabu All Day, a leading hot pot chain in South Korea.
Why it matters
Hot pot differs structurally from traditional quick service. The format encourages longer dwell time, higher average tickets, and group-based occasions—characteristics that can translate into strong per-store economics and deeper customer engagement.
Shabu All Day operates 169 stores across South Korea and generates about USD285 million in annual system-wide sales.
Its all-you-can-eat model is anchored on premium beef, complemented by hot dishes, desserts, and alcoholic beverages, positioning the brand within the affordable premium segment.
The chain delivers a 2- to 3-year payback period, equivalent to roughly 40 percent return on invested capital, alongside high double-digit EBITDA and EBIT margins, based on disclosed figures.
Between the lines
The move follows JFC’s acquisition of Compose Coffee, reinforcing Korea as a strategic platform for scalable growth.
The addition of Shabu All Day is expected to lift global revenues by about 2 percent and increase global EBIT by 8 percent in 2026, based on annualized FY25 results versus JFC’s FY26 forecast, according to a company statement.
Industry projections show the global hot pot segment reaching around $90 billion by 2029, with chained operators expanding their market share—highlighting the appeal of professionally managed, franchisable concepts.
For Philippine investors, the transaction illustrates how JFC is layering new growth engines onto its established brands. Experiential dining formats such as hot pot tap into rising demand for customizable and social meal experiences while offering attractive unit economics.
Big picture
Jollibee Group chair Tony Tan Caktiong said, “With Compose Coffee and now Shabu All Day, Jollibee Group continues to demonstrate its strengthened ability to acquire high-quality, profitable businesses that align squarely with our strategic pillars and deliver meaningful long-term value to our shareholders.”
“These investments reflect Jollibee Group’s disciplined approach to capital allocation, prioritizing opportunities that are both financially accretive and operationally scalable,” he added.
Rather than shifting away from its quick service roots, the expansion into hot pot complements JFC’s core brands—broadening its reach across dining occasions as it builds a more diversified global restaurant portfolio. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
