As the 2026 North and Central America World Cup kicks off, chicken franchises are ramping up efforts to meet unexpectedly high demand for match-day support. Major chicken brands are preparing for the Mexico match scheduled for June 19 at 10 a.m. by implementing early store openings and promotional discounts through their apps to attract customers.
According to industry sources on June 18, Genesis BBQ will begin accepting orders through its app at 8 a.m. on both June 19 and 25, the days of the matches. Some franchise locations are also considering early openings to align with the game times. bhc Chicken plans to leave the decision to franchise owners, but its company-owned stores will open at 9 a.m., one hour before the match starts.
Promotions targeting the World Cup period are also underway. BBQ is running a "BBQ Open Run" event, offering half chicken coupons to the first 2,000 customers daily at 11 a.m., and a "100 Won Deal" where customers can purchase Golden Olive Chicken for just 100 won. Kyochon Chicken is holding a "Kyochon Representative Taste Relay Discount" for app membership customers until June 28, along with a lucky draw event offering premium bicycles and app points to attract more customers.
bhc Chicken is distributing discount coupons through its "Cheering for Korea" event and providing additional benefits on match days. Some company-owned stores are even setting up large screens for live viewing events. Gubne Chicken is running a "Gubne Stamp Challenge" throughout June, where customers who order over 17,000 won through the app can collect stamps to receive a 7,000 won discount coupon.
The push for marketing ahead of the Mexico match is fueled by the unexpected success seen during the first match. On June 12, the estimated payment amount for BBQ increased by 58.2% compared to the same day the previous week, while bhc Chicken and Kyochon Chicken saw increases of 34.6% and 27.4%, respectively.
Data from delivery platforms reflects a similar trend. According to Baedal Minjok, the number of orders from 9 a.m. to noon on June 12 rose by 51.5% compared to the same day the previous week. Orders surged by 90.6% between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. just before the match. Notably, chicken orders skyrocketed by 875.8%, marking the highest growth rate.
An industry representative stated, "Stores that opened early during the first match saw a significant increase in delivery and takeout orders. We plan to adjust operating hours and continue related events in anticipation of increased orders for the Mexico match."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.