The food service and ingredient companies are expanding their presence in the consulting market. The main customers of the consulting departments of ingredient companies are franchises and small businesses. The goal is to provide consulting across the food service industry, from interior design to menu development, ultimately leading to the supply of ingredients.
A representative from the food service and ingredient industry noted, "This year, we are aiming to grow sales in the military food market that has recently opened and to take flight in the consulting market."
According to the distribution industry on the 12th, CJ Freshway is operating a program called 'Delicious Companion' that supports the business promotion of its ingredient distribution customers. This program promotes the competitiveness of the restaurant brands operated by the customers.
A representative from CJ Freshway stated, "We are providing promotional solutions to over 30 food service franchises, including Geumbul Beer, Baek Eok Coffee, and Barun Bossam 1990." CJ Freshway plans to expand its consulting targets from franchises to restaurants operated by small businesses starting this year. The aim is to discover new customers by broadening the consulting targets.
CJ Freshway is not the only one eyeing the consulting market. Samsung Welstory and OURHOME are also operating similar services.
Samsung Welstory has been providing a '360 Solution' aimed at companies supplying ingredients since 2021. It offers know-how on everything from franchise market analysis to promotional marketing and hygiene safety. A representative from Samsung Welstory mentioned, "The number of franchise stores that received the 360 Solution service last year increased by about 35%," adding, "Thanks to this, the supply value of ingredients also increased by about 30%."
OURHOME is also conducting total consulting for food and beverage business called 'OHFOD.' It provides consulting across all aspects of operating food and beverage establishments, from restaurant operations to menu development, hygiene safety, and space design. After the consulting, the supply of ingredients naturally follows, it was said.
The distribution industry views this as a move in response to the increasing importance of new market development for the growth of food service and ingredient companies. While the military food market opened this year, it presents stringent conditions that may contribute more to sales expansion than profitability. To improve profitability, companies need to tap into other markets or increase their size to achieve economies of scale.
An industry representative said, "In our country, the self-employed market has developed, and especially since most of it consists of restaurants, we believe we can find new business opportunities," adding, "Consulting targeted at small businesses and increasing sales have significance from a public interest perspective."
According to the Korea Food Ingredients Distribution Association, the ingredient market, valued at 37 trillion won in 2015, has been growing at an average rate of 4.7% annually. This year, the market size of ingredients is expected to reach 64 trillion won.