[Edaily Reporter Han Kwangbeom ] Kakao(035720)announced on the 25th that it had finalized the selection of 12 Gangwon-region businesses to participate in the “Regular Customer Store: Gangwon F&F Edition” and held the “Regular Customer Store Summit” at its Pangyo headquarters.
“Regular Spot” is part of Kakao’s mutual growth program, “Project Regular,” and was first launched this year for small and medium-sized food and beverage (F&F) businesses in the Gangwon region. The program aims to strengthen the brand competitiveness of local businesses and support the expansion of their online and offline sales channels so they can grow into nationwide brands.
“Regular Spot: Gangwon F&F Edition” accepted public applications from participating stores from July 8 to 28, with a total of 312 applicants resulting in a competition ratio of 26 to 1. Kakao selected the final 12 locations through a combination of document reviews and on-site visits to stores in the Gangwon region, where they comprehensively evaluated factors such as regional identity, brand story, and growth potential.
The 12 establishments ultimately selected for the “Regular Spot: Gangwon F&F Edition” are: △Gowon Agricultural Cooperative (Jeongseon / wild greens) △Georaedo Farm (Yeongwol / air-room tomatoes) △Geumseong Restaurant (Wonju / spicy braised beef short ribs) △Kimga-ne Wonju Chueotang (Wonju / chueotang) △Like by Nest (Gangneung / Potato Curry) △Love Marine (Sokcho / Red Crab Ramen & Red Crab Tteokbokki) △Madle (Chuncheon / Dakgalbi) △Sambakhanjip (Goseong / Cookies) △Seonmi Hangwa (Gangneung / Traditional Korean Sweets) △Yukrim Delicatessen (Goseong / Artisanal Sausages) △Chilseong Shipyard (Sokcho / Coffee Beans and Drip Bags) △31 Dried Seafood (Gangneung / Dried Seafood), among others.
The summit held on the 24th was attended by the owners of the 12 final selected businesses, as well as representatives from Kakao, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, the Small Business and Market Promotion Corporation, the “World We Build Together” Foundation, and Kakao Local Partners. The event featured an introduction to future support programs and commerce services such as Kakao Talk Deal and Makers, along with networking programs for participating business owners.
Kakao will provide benefits worth up to 100 million won per store through December. A key feature of the program is its tailored support for areas such as product development, branding, e-commerce, marketing, and sales channels, based on an assessment of each store’s current status and growth challenges.
Specifically, the program offers consulting on product planning, training on online commerce and AI utilization, assistance with listing on Kakao TalkDeal and Kakao Makers, and support for expanding sales channels through distribution platforms. Additionally, it provides online and offline marketing opportunities, such as a subsidy (3 million won) for sending messages via KakaoTalk Channels, the production of collaborative content with influencers—including Chef Yoon Nam-no—and participation in pop-up stores at department stores and festivals.
Kim Seong-rae, CEO of “Seonmi Hangwa,” a traditional Korean confectionery shop in Gangneung, said, “I wanted to introduce Gangwon-style hangwa—a tradition passed down through three generations—to more customers, but I faced difficulties expanding sales channels beyond the region.” He added, “I hope this program will help me take my products and brand to the next level and connect with customers nationwide.”
Im Ho-rim, CEO of “Yukrim Delicatessen,” a handmade sausage shop in Goseong, said, “I’ve had a lot of concerns about marketing and expanding sales channels, but I expect this project will allow me to meet new regular customers nationwide.”
Yang Hyun-seo, Performance Leader for the Win-Win Business Division at Kakao, stated, “This ‘Regular Customer Store Summit’ marks the starting point of a four-month growth journey that Kakao will undertake alongside the selected business owners.” She added, “In line with our slogan, ‘Business Owners Recognized by Regulars, Brands Recognized by the World,’ we will support each store in leveraging its unique charm and potential to reach more regular customers beyond their local areas.”
