[Edaily Reporter Kim Ji-woo ] CJ Freshway Corporation(051500)will supply food ingredients worth 50 billion won annually to the artisanal burger franchise What the Burger. In addition, the company is pursuing plans to introduce What the Burger’s menu to the institutional food service market. This strategy expands the scope of cooperation beyond simple food ingredient supply to include product development for the restaurant brand and the expansion of distribution channels.

CJ Freshway Corporation announced on the 10th that it has signed a food ingredient supply contract worth 50 billion won annually with Rising Star, the operator of What the Burger. Starting this month, it plans to supply approximately 100 types of food ingredients to What the Burger locations nationwide. The supplied items include ingredients used in key menu items such as burger buns, patties, and cheese.

CJ Freshway Corporation will operate a six-day-a-week delivery system utilizing its nationwide cold-chain logistics network. The company also plans to establish an ordering and logistics system tailored to each store’s order volume and operational environment.

This contract aligns with What’s Burger’s franchise expansion. What’s Burger, which opened its first store in 2021, has expanded its business by highlighting handmade burgers made with special sauces and reasonable price points. In the past year alone, it has opened over 100 new stores in major commercial districts nationwide, and currently operates approximately 250 locations.

CJ Freshway Corporation secures a wide range of food ingredients, including fresh and processed foods, through its specialized foodservice merchandising (MD) organization. The company plans to support What’s Burger franchisees’ ingredient ordering and inventory management by leveraging its food ingredient quality control system and nationwide logistics network.

Going forward, the two companies will collaborate not only on ingredient supply but also on menu development and securing new distribution channels. They plan to jointly develop exclusive products and new menu items tailored to What’s Burger’s menu characteristics and in-store cooking environments. They are also exploring ways to introduce What’s Burger’s menu to CJ Freshway Corporation’s institutional food service and food service distribution networks, which serve schools, offices, and leisure facilities.

Ahn Jun-hyuk, CEO of Rising Star, said, “As our business expands nationwide, it has become crucial to establish a system capable of stably supplying high-quality ingredients.” He added, “Through our collaboration with CJ Freshway Corporation, we will enhance the efficiency of franchisees’ ordering and inventory management and stabilize ingredient costs to lay the foundation for sustained growth.”

Kim Beom-joong, Head of the Platform Business Division at CJ Freshway Corporation, said, “We will continue to support the growth of our foodservice clients and expand our business by providing ingredient supplies and customized solutions tailored to their specific business characteristics and growth stages.”