Jollibee gets South Korean antitrust agency’s nod for Shabu All Day acquisition

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JFC first announced in February that it was acquiring Shabu All Day for around $87 million

MANILA, Philippines – South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has approved Jollibee Foods Corporation’s (JFC) plans to acquire the country’s largest all-you-can-eat hot pot chain Shabu All Day, the fast food giant disclosed on Thursday, April 16.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, JFC described the approval as a key milestone in the deal and underscores the Jollibee Group’s growing record in South Korea. The group earlier acquired South Korean coffee chain Compose Coffee in 2024 and is now in talks to bring the brand to the Philippines.

JFC first announced in February that it was acquiring Shabu All Day for around $87 million with an estimated payback period of around two to three years.

The company said that the hot pot brand is expected to contribute an additional 2% to the Jollibee Group’s topline and 1% to the conglomerate’s store count.

“Securing Korea FTC approval is an important milestone that advances our planned acquisition of Shabu All Day. This investment strengthens our Korea growth platform and reflects our focus on scalable, high-return concepts that support profitable growth for the Jollibee Group,” Jollibee Group global president and chief executive officer Ernesto Tanmantiong said.

The Jollibee Group’s international CEO and chief financial and risk officer Richard Shin also described Shabu All Day as a strong operational fit for the fast food giant’s South Korea platform.

“Shabu All Day is a strong operational fit for our Korea platform, with a proven format and clear levers to support continued expansion — while maintaining the brand’s quality and guest experience,” he said.

Jollibee aims to be among the top five restaurant companies in the world. – Rappler.com