CU on the 9th announced a 2026 franchisee co-prosperity plan. The plan is aimed at boosting franchisee revenue and creating a stable store operations environment. It includes new product introduction and rotation subsidies, and a disposal subsidy program.
The franchisee co-prosperity plan prepared this time eases franchisee burdens by supporting the entire process in detail from product introduction to sales and withdrawal. It focuses particularly on strengthening competitiveness in core convenience store categories such as ready-to-eat meals and chilled desserts.
First, the subsidy paid according to the new product adoption rate was raised from a maximum of 1.8 million won per year to 1.92 million won. It is calculated based on the overall new product adoption rate along with the adoption rate for new products in the ready-to-eat meals and chilled desserts categories.
A new product rotation subsidy was also introduced. For about two months after a new product launch, a maximum of 360,000 won per year is provided based on the rate at which the initial quantities are sold through sales, disposal, and withdrawal. Through a disposal subsidy program that pays up to 6 million won per year, the burden of disposal on stores is also reduced.
If all these subsidies are combined, each store can receive up to 8.28 million won per year. Separately, the company said it also pays an industry-leading average annual 1.02 million won per store for return expense.
CU is also running an "win-win cooperation fund interest support program" to reduce financial burdens as well as improve franchisee revenue. Under the program, headquarters covers part of the loan rate for franchisees, and interest of 2% per year is supported on loans of up to 100 million won.
In addition, it offers co-prosperity and welfare programs such as: ▲ free enrollment in seven types of insurance including product liability insurance and fire liability insurance ▲ free labor, legal, and tax consultations ▲ benefits for long-term operating stores ▲ family event support ▲ corporate-style welfare programs ▲ replacement of items covered under integrated maintenance management.
Sales at CU franchise stores have been steadily increasing since the co-prosperity plan was applied. This year, daily sales of new products at CU franchise stores increased 60% compared with 2021, before the plan was applied. For products eligible for chilled disposal support, sales rose 20% over the same period.
Son Ji-uk, head of the win-win cooperation office at BGF Retail, said, "CU's co-prosperity plan is not a simple expense subsidy but a practical investment to strengthen store competitiveness," and added, "We will expand support so that franchisees can stably generate revenue by bolstering product competitiveness and store operations."