The Winsome, Operator of 'Frankin Charcoal Chicken', Declared Bankrupt by Court

The Winsome Co., Ltd., which has operated the chicken franchise 'Frankin Charcoal Seasoned Grilled Chicken', has been declared bankrupt by the court. Established in 2021 with a capital of 50 million won, it started with 2.6 billion won in sales in 2022 and even generated 3.2 billion won in sales and 130 million won in operating profit in 2024.

The Winsome launched its flagship brand 'Frankin Charcoal Seasoned Grilled Chicken' and drew attention with a differentiated strategy combining the stir-fried bibimbap culture even amidst the red ocean of the chicken industry. In particular, CEO Kang Kyung-jin expressed his ambition through past media interviews, stating, "Since we are specialized in charcoal seasoned grilling, we will definitely become number one," and emphasized coexistence with franchisees by lowering the head office's margins. Based on the company's website, it had opened 52 franchise stores, and it is understood that 3 additional franchise stores are preparing to open.

The company previously obtained the Excellent Technology Enterprise Certification (T5 Grade) from SCI Information Service and emphasized its competitiveness through the establishment of an in-house logistics system and the operation of an R&D team. In particular, it promoted market expansion by putting forward a coexistence management strategy with franchisees and a sauce differentiation strategy, but it has now received a bankruptcy declaration.