BGF Retail, which operates CU, announced on the 8th that it conducted a training program in South Korea from the 1st for 7 days to transfer convenience store operating know-how to its partner company in Kazakhstan, CUCA (CU Central Asia).
This training program was organized by BGF Retail to mark the first anniversary of its entry into Kazakhstan, aiming to expand business exchanges with its partner and share the know-how of Korean convenience stores. To this end, about 20 employees, including Alina Shin, the CEO of CUCA, directly visited the South Korean business headquarters.
BGF Retail planned a business infrastructure tour to impart CU's operational know-how on products, sales, logistics, and marketing, and prepared lectures led by team leaders of major internal departments. In addition, they visited specialized convenience stores, widely known among foreign customers, such as CU Myeongdong Station, Hongdae Sang Sang Store, and Olympic Park Store, to share the latest domestic trends and successful marketing cases.
They also unveiled the convenience store logistics system and ready-to-eat food manufacturing site. BGF Retail introduced the Korean logistics system, food manufacturing, and hygiene management to partner company employees through the Namsa logistics center and Wonju Food Planet operated by BGF Logistics and BGF Food.
BGF Retail also discussed directions regarding the establishment of new infrastructure as part of its business expansion in Kazakhstan with its partner. Next month, BGF Retail plans to dispatch logistics professionals to the local area to continue close business cooperation. Additionally, comprehensive training related to development, sales, and products was conducted.
CUCA employees, in addition to the training program, plan to participate in the K-Food buyer invitation and export consultation event held at the AT Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, for two days starting on the 16th, actively discovering excellent products and expanding the sales of those products at local CU stores.
BGF Retail has previously held training programs by inviting partners from Mongolia in 2019 and Malaysia in 2022 to share the know-how of the Korean convenience store industry. As of the end of March this year, the number of CU overseas business stores was 467 in Mongolia, 151 in Malaysia, and 30 in Kazakhstan, totaling 648.
Im Hyung-geun, head of BGF Retail's overseas business division, said, "We will strengthen organic exchanges with existing partners and expand into other continents and countries to elevate our stature as a global convenience store standard."