Jollibee Foods Corp., the Philippines’ largest fast-food chain, said it has secured regulatory approval in South Korea for its planned acquisition of All Day Fresh Co., Ltd., the company behind the “Shabu All Day” hot pot chain, marking a key step in expanding its presence in one of Asia’s most competitive dining markets.
The clearance from the Korea Fair Trade Commission allows JFC’s 70 percent-owned subsidiary, Jolli-K Co., Ltd., to move closer to completing the transaction. The deal strengthens the group’s foothold in South Korea, following its earlier acquisition of coffee brand Compose Coffee.
Once finalized, Shabu All Day is expected to add about 2 percent to JFC’s revenues, 8 percent to global earnings before interest and taxes, and 1 percent to store count on an annualized basis, underscoring its potential to drive earnings growth.
“Securing Korea FTC approval is an important milestone,” said Ernesto Tanmantiong, Jollibee Group’s global president and chief executive. “This investment strengthens our Korea growth platform and reflects our focus on scalable, high-return concepts.”
International chief exective and chief financial officer Richard Shin said the company is now focused on closing and integrating the business, citing Shabu All Day’s “proven format” and expansion potential.
Operated by All Day Fresh, Shabu All Day is Korea’s largest all-you-can-eat hot pot chain, with roughly 170 outlets. The brand offers a fully integrated dining concept built around beef-centered hot pot, alongside hot dishes, desserts and alcohol at competitive prices.
With average store sizes of about 60 tables and a payback period estimated at two to three years, the chain delivers attractive unit economics and scale-ready formats—factors JFC sees as critical to sustaining growth amid strong consumer demand for value-driven dining.
Jollibee Foods Corporation operates more than 10,000 stores across 33 countries, managing a portfolio of 19 brands spanning quick service, coffee and casual dining segments.
