[Edaily Reporter Kim Ji-woo ] BGF Retail(282330), operator of the CU convenience store chain, walked along the Namhansanseong Fortress trail with executives and employees from its small and medium-sized partner companies to foster communication and express gratitude to those partners who have contributed to strengthening product competitiveness.

BGF Retail announced on the 13th that it held the “2026 Good Friends Day” at Namhansanseong Fortress in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, on the 11th. The event was attended by approximately 30 BGF Retail executives and employees, including CEO Min Seung-bae, as well as about 60 executives and employees from small and medium-sized partner companies.

Good Friends Day is an event where BGF Retail and its small and medium-sized partner companies’ employees step away from the workplace to interact and strengthen their cooperative relationships. This year, participants walked “The Path of Longevity,” Course 1 of the Namhansanseong Fortress trail. Divided into groups, they trekked for about two hours and completed a “photo mission” in which they captured images based on given keywords.

At the dinner following the hike, plaques of appreciation were presented to five SME partners for their contributions to product development, stable supply, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management. The award-winning partners received “Golden Key” plaques and tourism and culture gift certificates.

Eurobake received the “Friends Creative Award” for introducing distinctive desserts, such as CU’s “Neighborhood Chubby Cookie Series.” Food Planet, Cheongmi, and One Foodream were awarded the “Friends Partnership Award” for responding to changing demand for convenience foods and ensuring a stable supply of products. Midasom was selected as an “Outstanding ESG Partner” for participating in BGF Retail’s ESG support program and implementing improvement initiatives.

BGF Retail operates programs designed to foster shared growth with small and medium-sized partner companies, including a mutual growth fund, training to strengthen capabilities and performance, and initiatives to discover outstanding products and expand sales channels. In the “2024 Shared Growth Index Evaluation” conducted by the Shared Growth Committee, the company received the highest rating for the second consecutive year.

CEO Min said, “I would like to express my gratitude to our partners who have worked alongside us on the front lines, sharing our concerns and making efforts so that CU can grow by offering differentiated products and services.” He added, “Going forward, we will continue to communicate and collaborate closely with our partners to further strengthen our mutually beneficial partnership, enhancing each other’s competitiveness and growing together.”