Chicken by day, Soju by night.
Korean fried chicken, beer, and soju; a simple yet powerful combination that forms the heart and soul of Sojubar.
Crispy on inside and seasoned to the bone, with a variety of 9 unique flavors to choose from, Sojubar has developed a favorite for everyone's taste buds. The Korean fried chicken pairs perfectly with beer, and the extensive selection of soju flavors. In addition to their famous fried chicken, Sojubar’s menu also features a range of Korean classics such as kimchi and bibimbap.
The popularity of Korean cuisine has never been higher, due to the wider market demand for more culturally diverse dining experiences, and because of growing interest in Korean music, drama, and fashion.
The brand is also known for their entertainment areas and ‘Instagrammable’ venues, which offer an added dimension to a Sojubar experience. Fun games such as beer pong and karaoke further encourage social media engagement and, most importantly, help to create lasting memories.
The Franchise Opportunity
Sojubar has developed rapidly since 2021, and now has six venues in The Netherlands and one in Belgium, with a goal to open 30 sites by the end of 2026. The brand also has imminent openings in Germany and Turkey with franchise agreements recently signed for both countries.
Sojubar is interested in franchise expansion in all regions, especially in the UK, Europe, and GCC countries. In the UK, Sojubar is open to both a JV or a straight franchise with someone that wants to bring a truly innovative Korean concept to the market.
Sojubar offers authentic Korean dishes which are unique in the market. In addition to their famous fried chicken, Sojubar’s menu also features a range of Bibimbap, Kimbap, Mandu, and Bingsu.
Reasons to Become a Franchisee
Not only are Sojubar’s dishes visually appealing, but the restaurants are also designed with trendy urban designs. Cool aesthetics of stylish steel work, glowing neon lights, and vibrant plants combine with entertainment areas for karaoke and beer pong to create a lively ambience. This has also helped the brand to build a solid social media following, particularly on TikTok and Instagram.
Sojubar is a smart concept with refined operations that are quickly scalable, with ambitious but achievable plans for future growth. Their products are all high-margin, either due to the initial affordable costs of items (chicken and seasonings), the economies of scale in bulk buying (beer and soju), or versatility (soju also being used in cocktails).
The concept has been tested in multiple locations, where it has achieved incredible revenue between £2.5m and £3.2m per restaurant, with an industry-leading EBITDA at maturity between 20% and 33%.
Processes in the kitchen are kept quick and simple, allowing for fast staff training and product output, without the need to compromise on quality, or for lengthy training of expensive specialised chefs. The supply chain has been fully optimised by the parent company, Maden Group, which efficiently manages transportation, warehousing, and distribution.
Franchisee Requirements
Sojubar has broad appeal and a wide target audience, so the perfect location is a lively, urban high-traffic area, with a diverse population of food enthusiasts, young professionals, and students. Big city high streets, university towns, and transport hubs are all excellent options.
A Sojubar should feature a stylish bar, spacious seating area, room for entertainment, and ideally an outdoor space such as a terrace or beer garden. Venues are typically 1600 to 3200 sq ft (150 to 300 sq m).
An ideal franchisee will have prior experience in franchising, specifically as an operator within the Food and Beverage industry. They will show commitment to high standards of both food and customer service at all times, while fostering a lively, entertaining atmosphere for guests and staff.
In addition to managing in-store operations, a candidate should also be knowledgeable about marketing and creating social media. Above all, an ideal franchisee will have an understanding and appreciation for Sojubar’s brand, sharing in a cultural phenomenon with delicious food, excitement, and diversity.
The Next Step
If you are interested in becoming a part of this dynamic, expanding brand, register your interest with us below for more details.
Sojubar partners with seeds consulting for franchise expansion
Seeds Consulting are excited to be partnering with Sojubar the lively, dynamic brand concept known for their winning combination of crispy Korean fried chicken and tempting soju.
After first opening in Rotterdam in 2021, Sojubar has grown to include 5 venues, with even more on the way, all of which have become go-to destinations for a youthful crowd of locals and tourists, and has built a reputation for authentic dishes, chilled vibes, and connecting cultures.
The popularity of Korean cuisine has never been higher, due in part to the wider market demand for more culturally diverse dining experiences, but also specifically because of growing interest in Korean culture. The influences of Korean pop, dramas, and fashion have all naturally led to curiosity about Korean food, and thus a greater appreciation for the unique, fresh flavours of these dishes.
Sojubar combines excellent food with sleek aesthetics and vibrant entertainment, creating a relaxed atmosphere that has generated a massive social media presence and led to huge popularity largely through word-of-mouth. Not only that, but this brand also has exceptional operational prowess and genuine passion that is sure to be beneficial to any prospective franchisees.
Feng Chen, Managing Director of Sojubar, comments: ““We think Sojubar is a great fit for the UK market. It is not just our signatory Korean fried chicken recipes that sets us apart from existing competition, but it is also the vibe that we create every day for our guests, which then invariably gets captured and shared on Tik Tok. Ultimately, our aim is to take our brand to all main UK cities and we will be selective both in terms of partners and locations."
Seeds Consulting’s Founder Matteo Frigeri adds: "At Seeds, when taking on new clients, we look at the food, financials, scalability, trendiness, the people. Sojubar ranks incredibly high on all these factors and we are delighted to support its fast growth in the UK and internationally. In the UK, we are open to both a JV or a straight franchise with someone that wants to bring a truly innovative Korean concept to our market. In the Netherlands, they are packed every single day, even on a Monday evening in January".
About Sojubar
After a life-changing trip to Korea, and one magical night in Seoul enjoying delicious Korean comfort food and refreshing soju in a tucked away bar, four friends were inspired to create their own space to celebrate their Asian heritage and cultural roots in their European home, The Netherlands. In June 2021, Sojubar Rotterdam was born, offering authentic Korean dishes and a variety of soju drinks.
As the success spread, the brand grew, and Sojubar now has five venues in The Netherlands and one in Belgium, with several others about to open (the brand is exploding!). The founders view Sojubar as a bridge between cultures, bringing people together through good food and company, and where cultural diversity is celebrated.
Soju Bar - Korean food franchise. Record sales density, industry-leading profitability
