Toronto, ON – October 16 – Dining Brands Group (formerly BHC Group), a leading Korean Food and Beverage company renowned for its diverse portfolio of brands, is thrilled to announce the opening of its North American flagship store for its celebrated fried chicken brand, BHC Chicken at The Well, located at 486 Front St W, Toronto, ON M5V 0V2. This strategic expansion marks a significant milestone in Dining Brands Group’s commitment to bringing authentic Korean flavours to Canadian consumers.
Dining Brands Group’s impressive business model has garnered substantial interest and investment, including a remarkable $275 million (USD) investment from the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan in December 2020. This partnership underscores the company’s strong market potential and innovative approach within the food and beverage sector. Following the investment announcement, Toronto Global proactively reached out to the company’s headquarters in Seoul to facilitate the Canadian project.
“We are extremely proud and excited to welcome BHC to Toronto,” said the CEO of Toronto Global, Stephen Lund. “This flagship store not only enhances our diverse food scene but also allows us to offer Canadian customers a taste of BHC’s exceptional food selection, renowned for its quality and flavour. With Toronto’s multicultural environment, we anticipate that BHC will thrive and expand even further from this strategic base.”
Toronto, recognized as one of the most multicultural cities in the world, has become a hub and strategic location for international brands like BHC to invest and expand their reach globally. The city’s vibrant cultural mosaic provides the perfect backdrop for BHC to introduce its beloved fried chicken, appealing to diverse tastes and preferences.
“We are very pleased to introduce the taste and culture of Korea to Canadian customers through the opening of this BHC North American flagship store in Toronto,” stated Senior Executive Director Nam Hwa Yeon, in charge of the group’s Global Business Division. “In the future, we aim to enhance brand awareness and expand customer touchpoints by developing menus that cater to local consumer preferences and strategically selecting store locations, such as The Well in Toronto.”
Dining Brands Group collaborated closely with Toronto Global, the region’s economic development agency, to establish connections and navigate the process of this significant expansion.
“Since December 2020, we’ve worked closely with Toronto Global. Catherine liaised with the team in Korea day and night, serving as a single point of contact for the site selection process and providing market information and local connections for this successful expansion. We sincerely appreciate Toronto Global’s support on our North American flagship store in Toronto.”
The flagship store at The Well is set to be a vibrant destination for food lovers and is expected to attract both local residents and visitors eager to experience BHC’s signature dishes.
As BHC prepares for its grand opening on October 17th 2024, the company looks forward to becoming a cherished part of Toronto’s dynamic food culture, bringing the beloved flavours of Korea to the forefront of the Canadian dining experience.
ABOUT DINING BRANDS GROUP
Dining Brands Group Co., Ltd. is the new name for BHC Co., Ltd. It is a global comprehensive dining company that operates brands such as the casual dining restaurant Outback Steakhouse, the premium Korean beef specialty store Changgo 43, the leading Korean chicken brand BHC Chicken, and other brands such as Keunmam Halmae Korean Restaurant, and Super Duper.
MEDIA CONTACT
BHC Global: [email protected]