What CU BGFretail does

CU is the convenience store brand operated by BGF Retail (주식회사 BGF / BGF리테일), a privately held subsidiary of South Korea's diversified BGF conglomerate. CU runs a nationwide franchise-based physical retail network — with the source data citing 1,161 stores across 17 metropolitan/regional areas supported by 21 regional offices and one product-side claim of 'over 17,000 stores nationwide' (a discrepancy noted as a data inconsistency) — plus an integrated digital layer built on the Pocket CU mobile app, the CU Membership program, the CU Pay hub, and partnerships with the Yogiyo, Naver Order, WeMake Off, and Owinn delivery aggregators. Stores are operated 24/7/365 (or 19-hour) and stock approximately 1,400 SKUs per location drawn from a 4,000+ product catalog, including approximately 230+ CU private-label (PB) items.

The underlying technology stack is a proprietary retail management system: POS terminals, inventory management, the franchisee web portal (owner.bgfretail.com), the Pocket CU app (iOS and Android), a Work-from-Home Store Management System that lets franchisees place orders and view sales reports and CCTV remotely, an Automatic Ordering System that triggers reorders based on preset optimal inventory levels per store, and a Smart Unmanned Store (Tech Friendly CU) that uses facial recognition for entry and payment. ISMS-P certification from KISA covers CU membership, the corporate homepage, and the franchise management system — a regulatory pre-requisite for handling member data and payment integrations at scale.

Revenue is generated through four streams: (1) merchandise sales (food, beverages, snacks, daily necessities, PB products) at store level; (2) franchise fees and revenue-share commissions under four contract formats (Purple 1/2 with franchisee receiving 70–80% of profit and Green 1/2 with 50–68%, on 4/5/7/10-year contracts with 22M KRW total upfront); (3) delivery and service commissions via Yogiyo, Naver Order, WeMake Off, Owinn, and direct logistics partners (Mesh Korea/Vaarg, Logioul/Saenggangdaero, Barogo); and (4) advertising and partnership revenue from brand collaborations and promotional campaigns. Customer concentration is diffuse — individual consumers across Korean demographics account for the bulk of merchandise revenue, while franchisees (individuals and corporations) generate B2-side economics via franchising fees and revenue-share. The business model is operationally mature, multi-revenue-stream, and supported by deep loyalty/payment ecosystem integrations with 14+ major Korean brands (Naver Pay, Kakao Pay, Toss, SKT T Membership, KT Membership, Hyundai Blue Members, Samsung Card, Shinhan Card, CJ ONE, H.Point, SPC, OK Cashbag, Hana Money, Citicard, E1 Orange).

Name

CU BGFretail

Legal name

주식회사 BGF, BGF리테일

Website

https://cu.bgfretail.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CU is a South Korean franchise-based convenience store chain operated by BGF Retail, running nationwide stores selling food, beverages, daily goods, and ~230+ private-label SKUs alongside the Pocket CU mobile app, the CU Membership program, and ~20 in-store life services (parcel, bill payment, lottery, prepaid charging). It serves individual consumers, individual franchisees, and corporate franchise operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convenience Store Retail

NAICS

Convenience Retailers (445131), Food and Beverage Retailers (445)

SIC

Retail-Convenience Stores (5412), Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional Convenience Stores (C-Stores) (CRAHABAA)

Keywords

• Convenience store retail
• Franchise retail operations
• Private label consumer goods
• Membership loyalty program
• Lifestyle convenience services

Headquarters

HQ city

Yeoksamdong

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: Revenue generated from sales of food, beverages, snacks, daily necessities, and lifestyle services across CU convenience stores. The company operates approximately 4,000+ product items with approximately 1,400 items stocked per store depending on location characteristics.
2. Franchise Fees and Royalties: CU collects franchise fees including initial membership fee (700 million KRW), product preparation fee (1,400 million KRW), and consumables preparation fee (100 million KRW). Franchisees share revenue with CU based on store type: Purple 1/2 (70-80% to franchisee) or Green 1/2 (50-68% to franchisee), with CU retaining the remainder as commission.
3. Delivery and Service Commissions: Commissions from delivery services through partner apps (Yogiyo, Naver Order, WeMake Off, Owinn) and various life services including parcel delivery, bill payment, lottery, transportation card charging, and other convenience services.
4. Advertising and Partnership Revenue: Revenue from brand collaborations, promotional campaigns, and advertising partnerships facilitated through CU's extensive store network and digital channels including the Pocket CU app.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CU operates South Korea's largest convenience store franchise chain through more than 1,161 physical storefronts selling approximately 4,000+ product SKUs including ready-to-eat meals, snacks, beverages, and daily necessities. The business is complemented by 230+ private-label products, the Pocket CU mobile app for digital ordering and membership services, and an extensive suite of more than 20 in-store life convenience services such as parcel delivery, bill payment, lottery, gift cards, and toll payment.

Product overview

CU (BGFretail) operates as Korea's largest convenience store chain offering a physical retail footprint across thousands of stores, supplemented by a digital ecosystem centered on the CU Membership loyalty program and the Pocket CU mobile app. The core product is the CU convenience store — selling approximately 4,000+ product SKUs (with ~1,400 per store depending on location) across meals, snacks, beverages, and daily goods — alongside a private-label (PB) range of ~230+ differentiated products. The digital layer includes the Pocket CU app for mobile ordering (delivery/pickup), membership management, and CU Money; the CU Membership program with integrations to 14+ third-party point/payment systems; and the CUPay hub. The franchise program (CU 창업) provides entrepreneurship pathways with multiple investment formats. A broad suite of ~20+ in-store services covers delivery, parcel, bill payment, lottery, gift cards, prepaid charging, traffic/Hi-Pass cards, and self-service kiosks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 포켓CU (Pocket CU): Mobile membership and payment app for CU convenience stores offering mobile coupons, order and delivery services, and membership point management.

Products and services

• CU Convenience Stores
• Pocket CU Mobile App
• CU Membership Program
• CU Franchise Program
• CU Private Label (PB) Products
• CU Gift Sets
• CU Delivery Service
• CU Parcel/Pickup POSTBOX Service
• Points/Money Charging Service
• CU Pay (Mobile Payment Hub)
• Tax/Utility Bill Payment Service
• Expressway Toll Payment Service
• Lotto/Sports Toto Service
• CU Gift Card
• CU Mobile Gift Voucher
• Hi-Pass Charging Service
• Slow Mailbox (느린 우체통)
• Partner Co-branded Credit/Check Cards
• Convenience Store Payment Service
• Shared Power Bank Rental
• Smart Unmanned Store (Tech Friendly CU)

Quantifiable outcome

• Franchisee receives 50-80% of sales profit depending on store type and operating hours
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration40 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YogiyocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYogiyo is a food delivery platform that integrates with CU's store network to enable customers to order convenience store products for home delivery through the Yogiyo app.
• Naver Order (네이버주문하기)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNaver's ordering platform partners with CU to enable product delivery services to customers through the Naver ecosystem.
• WeMake Off (위메프오)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWeMake Off delivery service partner enabling CU product orders through their platform.
• Owinn (오윈)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOwinn is a delivery service partner enabling CU convenience store product delivery to customers.
• Naver PaycoreTechnology or IntegrationNaver Pay point charging service available at CU stores. Customers can charge up to 100,000 KRW per transaction.
• Kakao Pay MoneycoreTechnology or IntegrationKakao Pay Money charging service available at CU convenience stores. Maximum 100,000 KRW per transaction.
• Toss Money (토스머니)coreTechnology or IntegrationToss Money charging service available at CU stores. Maximum 100,000 KRW per transaction.
• KB Starzone/Liiv (KB스타틴즈/리브)coreTechnology or IntegrationKB Starzone and Liiv point charging service available at CU. Maximum 100,000 KRW per transaction.
• SENDcoreTechnology or IntegrationSEND money charging service with maximum 500,000 KRW per transaction (varies by user grade).
• SKT (T Membership)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSKT T Membership partnership offering 100 KRW discount per 1,000 KRW payment for VIP/Gold members, 50 KRW for Silver members. T membership points can be used at CU.
• KT (KT Membership)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKT Membership partnership offering 200 KRW discount for simple meals (1,000 KRW) during 5-9 AM daily (limited to 1,000 KRW per day).
• Hyundai Motor Group (현대자동차 블루멤버스)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerHyundai Blue Members points can be used for payment at CU (not for accumulation). Monthly limit of 20,000 KRW. Excludes gift certificates and services.
• Hyundai Oilbank (현대오일뱅크 보너스포인트)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHyundai Oilbank bonus points can be used for payment (not accumulated). Minimum 1,000 points per use, maximum 20,000 points per day, 20,000 per month.
• Hana Money (하나머니)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerHana Money to CU membership point conversion (100:100) with 4% Hana Money re-accumulation. Also available for on-site payment at CU.
• OK CashbagcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOK Cashbag points can be used for payment (not accumulated) at CU stores.
• SPC Group (SPC 해피포인트)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSPC Happy Point can be used up to 15% of payment amount (minimum 1,000 KRW purchase, minimum 1,000 points, max 10,000 points per use). Excludes SPC-affiliated cards.
• CJ Group (CJ.ONE 포인트)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCJ.ONE points can be used with minimum 1,000 points per transaction, maximum 100,000 points per use.
• H Point (H.Point)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerH.Point can be used at CU from 100 points in 10-point increments, maximum 20,000 points per month.
• Hyundai Card (현대카드 M포인트)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerHyundai Card M Points can pay up to 20% of purchase amount as immediate discount. Remaining balance must be paid with same Hyundai Card.
• Shinhan Card (신한카드 마이신한포인트)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerShinhan Card My Shinhan Points can pay 100% of purchase amount as immediate discount. Remaining must be paid with same Shinhan Card. Excludes Shinhan BC and corporate cards.
• Samsung Card (삼성카드 보너스 포인트)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSamsung Card Bonus Points can be used for payment at CU.
• Citibank (씨티카드 씨티포인트)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCitibank Citi Points can pay 20% of purchase as claim discount. Can combine with other discounts.
• E1 (E1 오렌지카드)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerE1 Orange Card earns 1% cashback on payments. Orange Points can pay up to 100% of purchase.
• Korea Expressway Corporation (한국도로공사)coreOthersPartnership for expressway unpaid toll payment service. CU processes unpaid toll fees on behalf of Korea Expressway Corporation at all stores 24/7/365.
• Mesh Korea (메쉬코리아)/부릉coreTechnology or IntegrationHome delivery logistics partner for CU's direct delivery services including home delivery order management and gift service fulfillment.
• Logioul (로지울)/생각대로coreTechnology or IntegrationHome delivery logistics partner for CU home delivery services.
• Barogo (바로고)coreTechnology or IntegrationHome delivery logistics partner for CU's delivery service operations.
• SGI Seoul Guarantee Insurance (SGI 신용정보)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSGI provides credit management and debt collection services for CU's franchisee credit evaluation and accounts receivable management.
• NICE Information & Communications (나이스정보통신)coreTechnology or IntegrationCredit card payment processing and agency services. Also handles order information brokerage and CU Money service registration and payment.
• Hyosung ITX (효성ITX)coreTechnology or IntegrationCustomer center operations, member information management, and home delivery order management, CS support.
• BGF Networks (BGF네트웍스)coreTechnology or IntegrationMobile card and mobile coupon services (amount rights, product exchange rights, conditional amount rights, product discount rights, product accumulation rights). Also handles mobile gift certificate and e-coupon issuance/distribution.
• Waily (와일리)coreTechnology or IntegrationWebsite service development and operations, member database management and processing.
• KCB (Korea Credit Bureau)coreTechnology or IntegrationIdentity verification and real-name authentication services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 7-Eleven Korea: 7-Eleven Korea is the Korean operator of the 7-Eleven brand (under Lotte), one of the largest convenience store chains competing head-to-head with CU on store footprint, ready-to-eat meals, and 24-hour convenience services.
• GS25 (GS Retail): GS25 is GS Retail's convenience store chain and one of CU's closest direct competitors in Korea, operating a similarly extensive franchise-based store network with private label, life services, and digital loyalty programs.
• Emart24: Emart24 is the convenience store chain affiliated with Shinsegae Group's E-mart, offering comparable product assortment, life services, and franchise model that competes directly with CU.
• Ministop Korea: Ministop Korea is the local operator of the global Ministop franchise and competes directly with CU in Korean convenience retail with similar small-format store footprint and product mix.
• i.mart (formerly With Me): i.mart is a Korean convenience store chain offering a similar small-format convenience store format, life services, and franchise opportunity model competing for the same Korean retail customers as CU.

Broad incumbents

• FamilyMart (Japan): FamilyMart is one of Japan's three largest convenience store chains, an adjacent benchmark in the Asian c-store category and a relevant reference point for franchise and PB strategy.
• Lawson (Japan): Lawson is one of Japan's leading convenience store chains and serves as an adjacent broad-incumbent benchmark for Asian c-store operations, private label depth, and life service integration.
• Alimentation Couche-Tard (Circle K): Couche-Tard operates the global Circle K network; a broad incumbent convenience store peer that informs multinational scale benchmarks and category best practices for chains like CU.
• Seven & i Holdings (7-Eleven global parent): Seven & i Holdings operates the global 7-Eleven network including 7-Eleven Korea; a broader incumbent with multinational scale that shapes convenience store retail practices and benchmarks CU against.

Others

• BGF Retail (parent listed entity): BGF Retail is CU's parent and the listed entity that consolidates CU's results. Included as an adjacent reference for the corporate parent / conglomerate context within which CU operates, rather than as a directly comparable operating peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BGFretail
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cu.official
• Facebookfacebook.com/CU.BGFretail.cvs
• Instagraminstagram.com/cu_official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bgf-retail-co-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CU BGFretail