Jollibee Group to Acquire Korea’s Shabu All Day Hot Pot Chain

SEOUL (Azat TV) – Jollibee Group, the Philippine-based global food giant, has entered into an agreement to acquire South Korea’s prominent hot pot chain, Shabu All Day, for an estimated $87 million (KRW127 billion). This significant acquisition, announced on February 20, 2026, marks a strategic expansion into Asia’s rapidly growing dining market and is expected to substantially increase Jollibee’s international revenue and store count.

The deal involves Jollibee Group’s subsidiary, Jolli-K Co. Ltd., inking an agreement to acquire All Day Fresh Co. Ltd., the operator of Shabu All Day. Upon completion of the acquisition, which is subject to closing and financing conditions, Shabu All Day will be consolidated into Jollibee Foods Corporation’s (JFC) financial statements. This move underscores Jollibee’s aggressive push to diversify its brand portfolio and strengthen its global footprint, particularly in high-growth Asian markets.

Strategic Expansion with Shabu All Day

The acquisition is projected to yield significant financial benefits for Jollibee Group. The company anticipates a 2% jump in overall revenues, an increase in the contribution of its international business to 46% of global revenues, and an 8% growth in global earnings before income tax for the current year. Furthermore, the addition of Shabu All Day’s 169 stores is expected to result in an approximate 1% increase in Jollibee’s total store count worldwide, as reported by GMA News.

Shabu All Day, established in October 2014 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, specializes in the franchise business of hot pot and eat-all-you-can restaurants. It has distinguished itself as the top hot pot chain in Korea, leading both in store count and total system-wide sales, which reached $285 million. This market leadership makes Shabu All Day a compelling asset for Jollibee Group’s expansion strategy.

Jollibee Group’s Growing International Portfolio

Talks for the acquisition formally commenced in August 2024 with Elevation Equity Partners Korea Limited. This collaboration follows a previous successful partnership between Jollibee Group and Elevation for the acquisition of Compose Coffee, which Jollibee aims to expand across the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Elevation, a private equity firm focused on the Korean consumer space, will maintain a 30% effective shareholding in Jolli-K, indicating a continued strategic alliance.

Gordon Cho, managing partner at Elevation, emphasized the potential of the deal, stating, “Shabu All Day represents a compelling opportunity in one of Asia’s fastest-growing dining categories, and we believe Jollibee Group’s global scale and brand-building excellence, combined with Elevation’s on-the-ground market expertise, will unlock significant long-term value.” JFC chairman Tony Tan Caktiong echoed this sentiment, highlighting the group’s ‘disciplined approach to capital allocation, prioritizing opportunities that are both financially accretive and operationally scalable,’ as reported by ABS-CBN News.

Future Outlook for Jollibee’s Global Presence

This latest acquisition aligns with Jollibee Group’s broader strategic vision, which includes plans to create a standalone international business, Jollibee Foods Corporation International (JFCI). The company intends to list JFCI on a US securities exchange by 2027 and is actively reviewing its transaction structure. This move signals Jollibee’s ambition to further globalize its operations and tap into international capital markets.

Jollibee Group’s extensive portfolio already encompasses wholly-owned brands like Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Smashburger, alongside franchised brands such as Burger King and Yoshinoya in the Philippines. With existing ownership stakes in The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and SuperFoods Group, the addition of Shabu All Day further diversifies its offerings and strengthens its position in the competitive global food service industry. By the end of September 2025, JFC operated 6,859 stores abroad, demonstrating its substantial international footprint.

The acquisition of Shabu All Day by Jollibee Group highlights a strategic pivot towards high-growth, experiential dining categories beyond its traditional fast-food offerings, leveraging local market leadership to accelerate international expansion and diversify revenue streams.