What CJ Freshway does

CJ Freshway is a publicly listed (KOSDAQ: 051500) South Korean B2B food platform and subsidiary of CJ Group (58.81% owned by CJ Co., Ltd. and related parties), operating two interconnected businesses: food ingredient distribution and food service/catering. The distribution business supplies over 24,000 SKUs of fresh produce, livestock, seafood, and processed ingredients to restaurant franchises, institutional caterers, and food manufacturers through a nationwide cold-chain logistics network anchored by the largest low-temperature logistics center in Korea at Icheon, supplemented by an AI-curated online ordering platform (OnlyOne Foodnet) and a Central Kitchen for semi-processed and fully-processed meal production. The food service business operates approximately 600 catering and concession sites across industrial cafeterias, offices, hospitals, schools, leisure facilities, and airports under sub-brands including Itswell, FreshOne, GreenTerrace, GourmetBridge, MorningHaze, SnackPick, and FreshMeal On, with the latter addressing kitchen-less client locations.

The company monetizes primarily through B2B transaction-based food ingredient sales, managed catering services contracts, and (since 2026) a 55%-controlled B2B marketplace platform (Sikbom, operated by Marketboro) generating marketplace commissions. Go-to-market relies on direct enterprise field sales teams segmented by channel (franchise, corporate, healthcare, education, seniors), supplemented by an inside sales/consultation center (02-2149-6114) and digital channels. Customer concentration is moderate, with the largest disclosed supply contract (Sept Kwang Green Food, ₩600 billion) representing an estimated ~17% of FY2025 revenue, balanced by 550+ industrial and corporate clients. Underlying technology includes a proprietary food safety laboratory, HMI-automated cold-chain AS/RS warehousing with TMS real-time monitoring, cloud-based ERP/CRM, and AI-based product recommendation and predictive analytics, although AI capabilities remain at the feature layer rather than as a core differentiator.

FY2025 revenue reached ₩3,481 billion (~US$2.4-2.5B), up 7.9% YoY, with operating profit of ₩101.7 billion (up 8.1% YoY) and net profit of ₩50.1 billion; Q1 2026 revenue grew 8% YoY. Strategic activity in 2025-2026 has centered on verticalization: the April 2025 absorption-merge of FreshOne consolidated franchise distribution, the May 2025 closure of the Chile office refocused on the Korean core, the July 2025 opening of GourmetBridge at Incheon Airport extended concession reach, the March 2026 launch of premium consumer brand Cureats marked a move into CPG, and the March 2026 acquisition of 55% of Marketboro established a digital platform pillar. The company holds ISO 22000 (since 2005), 14001, 45001, 27001, and 37301 certifications, KFDA food-safety certification (first in industry, 2024), and 2025 Korea ESG Standards Institute Comprehensive Grade A (Social A+).

Name

CJ Freshway

Legal name

씨제이프레시웨이주식회사 (CJ Freshway Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://cjfreshway.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CJ Freshway is a South Korean B2B food platform (KOSDAQ: 051500) and CJ Group subsidiary that distributes 24,000+ food ingredients and operates 600+ catering sites for restaurants, corporates, hospitals, schools, and concessions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Distribution and Institutional Catering Services

NAICS

Special Food Services (7223), Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412), Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing (311991)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Noncommercial/Institutional Broadline Distributors (K-12, Higher Ed, Healthcare, Government) (AFAIAAAC)

Keywords

• Food ingredient distribution
• Institutional catering services
• Food service solutions
• Cold chain logistics
• Central kitchen manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Food Ingredient Distribution: B2B distribution of food ingredients including fresh produce, livestock, seafood, and processed goods to restaurants, catering operations, and food manufacturers. The company sources over 24,000 products domestically and internationally and distributes through owned logistics infrastructure.
2. Food Service / Catering Operations: Contract catering services at industrial sites, offices, hospitals, leisure facilities (golf courses), and concession locations. The company operates approximately 600 business sites providing meals through various service formats including in-house cafeterias, mobile meal services, and convenience stores.
3. Kitchenless Meal Services: Kitchenless services including 'Fresh Meal On' providing meal solutions for clients without full kitchen facilities. This includes mobile meal delivery and grab-and-go convenience offerings.
4. Online Platform / Marketplace: Online food ingredient marketplace 'Sikbom' operated by Marketboro (CJ Freshway holds 55% stake). Platform commissions and transaction fees from B2B food ingredient trading between suppliers and food service operators.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CJ Freshway is a B2B food platform offering two interconnected core solutions: (1) Food Ingredient Distribution — distributing over 24,000 SKUs of food ingredients (fresh produce, meat, seafood, processed goods) to restaurants, catering operators, and food manufacturers via nationwide cold-chain logistics and an online ordering platform; and (2) Food Service Solutions — operating catering and food service at 600+ sites across industrial, office, hospital, school, leisure, and concession channels, including a Kitchenless mobile meal delivery model. Central Kitchen (센트럴키친) in Icheon provides semi-finished and fully-cooked product manufacturing for clients.

Product overview

CJ Freshway is a comprehensive B2B food platform offering two interconnected core solutions: (1) Food Ingredient Distribution Solutions — a distribution platform providing over 24,000 food ingredient SKUs through nationwide cold-chain logistics, HACCP-certified quality assurance, an online ordering system with AI-based product curation, and a Central Kitchen (센트럴키친) in Icheon for semi-finished and fully-cooked product manufacturing; and (2) Food Service Solutions — catering and food service operations at over 600 sites across industrial, office, hospital, leisure, and concession channels, including the mobile Kitchenless model branded as FreshMeal On (프레시밀온). The company operates multiple private brand sub-brands: Itswell (이츠웰) for the institutional catering channel, FreshOne (프레시원) for restaurant channels, I-NURI (아이누리) for children, HEALTHY-NURI (헬씨누리) for seniors, and its own food service brands including GreenTerrace (그린테리아), GourmetBridge (고메브릿지), MorningHaze (모닝해즈), SnackPick (스낵픽), and the REFRESH corporate welfare suite. An R&D Center established in June 2023 develops customized franchise products and menu solutions, having launched approximately 800 new products over three years. The company also holds a majority stake in Marketboro, operator of the B2B food ingredient marketplace SikBom (식봄).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Itswell (이츠웰): B2B food ingredient brand specializing in fresh, processed and non-food items with highest quality standards for institutional food service
• FreshOne (프레시원)
• I-NURI (아이누리)
• Healthy-NURI (헬씨누리)
• Itswell Credit
• DONO
• Jeongpum Hanwoo/Hanpork (정품 한우·한돈)
• Green Teria (그린테리아)
• Gourmet Bridge (고메브릿지)
• MorningHaze (모닝해즈)
• SnackPick (스낵픽)
• FreshMeal On (프레시밀온)
• Ttuen Tten School (튼튼스쿨)

Products and services

• Food Ingredient Distribution Solutions (식자재 유통 솔루션) Comprehensive B2B food ingredient distribution solution for restaurants, institutional catering, retail, and food manufacturers, providing over 24,000 product SKUs through nationwide cold-chain logistics, HACCP-certified quality assurance, and online ordering with AI-based product curation.
• Food Service Solutions (푸드 서비스 솔루션) Catering and food service operations at 600+ sites across industrial, office, hospital, school, leisure, and concession channels, including on-site meal service, menu development, and the Kitchenless (키친리스) mobile meal delivery model branded as FreshMeal On.
• Central Kitchen (센트럴키친) Centralized cooking facility in Icheon that processes ingredients into semi-finished and fully-cooked products under standardized recipes, supplying consistent taste, quality, and hygiene to food service and restaurant clients while reducing labor and food waste.
• Sikbom (식봄) B2B Food Ingredient Marketplace B2B food ingredient open market platform operated by Marketboro, enabling restaurant operators to source food ingredients through an online marketplace with real-time pricing data and menu cost analysis.
• FreshMeal On (프레시밀 온) Kitchenless Meal Service Mobile kitchenless meal solution delivering customized menu plans and meal services to workplaces lacking dedicated kitchen facilities, using hub-kitchen cooking and convenient meal store installations.
• Curaits (큐레잇츠) Premium Meal Kit Brand Premium convenience meal kit brand targeting consumer and institutional markets with high-quality prepared meal solutions.
• R&D Center Services Integrated research and development center combining product development, menu planning, and culinary science verification; develops customized franchise-branded products and maintains a sauce recipe database of over 1,000 entries annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800+ customized products developed in 3 years with 3.5x annual revenue growth in franchise customization
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Korean Football Association (대한축구협회)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Co-promotional partnership for the 'Korean Team Support Culinary Festival' featuring national team-themed menus and promotional events at institutional dining locations during major football tournaments.
• Sept Kwang Green Food (세광그린푸드)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2026600 billion KRW food ingredient supply contract for 7 restaurant brands with 150+ locations nationwide including Seokam Salt-Grilled Fish (석암생소금구이) and Sancheong Charcoal BBQ (산청숯불가든). Partnership developed over 2 years of trading relationship.
• Sapiens Studio (사피엔스 스튜디오)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026CJ ENM's YouTube channel producing food content collaboration 'What's Left is for Commercial Use' featuring chef demonstrations using Sikbom platform ingredients for restaurant operator audiences.
• Marketboro (마켓보로)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026CJ Freshway acquired additional shares in Marketboro in March 2026, becoming the largest shareholder with a 55% stake. Marketboro operates the B2B food ingredient platform 'Sikbom', enabling CJ Freshway to strengthen its online distribution capabilities and digital transformation in the food ingredient market.
• CJ ENMcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerContent collaboration partner for exclusive entertainment IP usage in catering promotions. CJ Freshway creates special menus and promotional events featuring content from CJ ENM's TV dramas, movies, and entertainment programs for institutional dining settings.
• CJ CGVcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEntertainment content collaboration leveraging CJ Group synergies for exclusive IP-based promotions in institutional food service settings.
• Korean Society of Sports Nutrition (한국운동영양학회)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development of high-protein therapeutic menus for institutional dining, including 'Korean BBQ Chicken Wrap' developed collaboratively for sports nutrition-focused promotions.
• Yonsei University Severance Hospital (연세대학교 세브란스 병원)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for developing specialized hospital meals including therapeutic diets for cancer, diabetes, and low-sodium applications, as well as VIP meals and international patient menus. First in Korea to develop foreign patient meals.
• CJ Group Affiliates (CJ제일제당, CJ푸드빌)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeverages synergies across CJ Group including CJ CheilJedang's food manufacturing technology, CJ Foodville's restaurant operational expertise, and shared infrastructure for comprehensive food service solutions.
• Seoul National University Hospital (서울대학교병원)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical service agreement providing priority appointment scheduling and expedited medical services for employees and their families through the hospital network.
• Local Farms (산지 농가)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract farming partnerships across Korea including Cheorwon, Yeoncheon, Icheon, Sangju, Iksan, Gochang, Shinan, Jeju, and other regions for fresh produce supply. Includes direct purchase arrangements and CSV (Creating Shared Value) model implementation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sysco Corporation: The largest broadline foodservice distributor globally, serving restaurants, healthcare, education, and hospitality. Comparable as a broadline institutional foodservice distributor at much larger scale, providing benchmark for CJ Freshway's distribution business model.
• US Foods: Major US broadline foodservice distributor serving healthcare, hospitality, and restaurants. Directly comparable in B2B ingredient distribution to institutional clients with similar end-market segmentation.
• Performance Food Group: US-based broadline foodservice distributor with Vistar (vending/captive dining) and core food service operations. Comparable business model in broadline distribution to institutional clients including healthcare and education.
• Sodexo: Global contract catering and food services giant operating institutional dining, healthcare, and education meal services. Comparable in contract catering segment, especially in hospitals, schools, and corporate cafeterias.
• Compass Group: World's largest contract foodservice and support services company. Directly comparable in operating institutional cafeterias, hospital meals, school feeding, and corporate catering at scale.
• Bid Corporation: South African-listed global broadline foodservice distributor operating across multiple continents. Comparable as a scaled, multi-country B2B foodservice distributor to institutional clients, providing international benchmark.

Direct peers

• Hyundai Green Food: Korean food service and catering company, one of CJ Freshway's primary domestic competitors in institutional catering and meal services. Directly comparable in Korean foodservice operations, contract catering, and meal distribution.
• Ourhome: Major Korean food service company specializing in institutional catering (schools, corporate cafeterias, hospitals). One of CJ Freshway's most direct domestic competitors with similar end-market focus and business model.
• Pulmuone: Korean food manufacturer and distributor with significant B2B presence in health-focused, plant-based, and organic food distribution. Comparable in food ingredient distribution and overlapping customer base in Korean foodservice.
• Daesang Corporation: Korean food manufacturer (well-known for kimchi and sauces) with growing distribution and B2B operations. Comparable in Korean food ingredient manufacturing and distribution channels serving foodservice operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1MUkmNae8N5tbcQc24BE3g
• Instagraminstagram.com/cjfreshway_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cj-freshway

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments3 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CJ Freshway