MANILA — Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) has cleared a major regulatory hurdle in South Korea, receiving antitrust approval for its planned $87 million acquisition of Shabu All Day, the country's leading all-you-can-eat hot pot restaurant chain.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission's green light allows JFC to proceed with the purchase through Jolli-K, its majority-owned subsidiary. This move significantly advances the Philippine fast-food giant's international growth strategy in a key Asian market.
"This acquisition represents a strategic expansion into Korea's popular dining segment," said a company representative. "Shabu All Day's strong brand and operational scale align perfectly with our growth objectives."
Shabu All Day operates approximately 170 locations across South Korea, specializing in hot pot meals with beef as the primary protein. The chain's stores average about 60 tables each, creating what analysts describe as a "scalable growth platform" with proven consumer demand.
Financially, the deal is expected to increase JFC's group revenues by approximately 2% and boost global earnings before interest and tax by around 8%. The acquisition will also add roughly 1% to Jollibee's total store count worldwide.
This marks JFC's second major investment in South Korea's food service industry, following its earlier acquisition of coffee brand Compose Coffee. The company continues to pursue strategic opportunities that strengthen its position in competitive international markets while diversifying its culinary offerings beyond its traditional fast-food roots.