[Sponsored Report] SK Innovation gives Jeonju cafe a helping hand

Jeonju Bread Cafe’s sales and employment have continued to grow with the support of SK Innovation. [SK INNOVATION]

Jeonju Bread Cafe in North Jeolla is leading the way in generating social value, including employing socially disadvantaged people.

The cafe, famous for its bread containing bibimbap, or rice mixed with vegetables and marinated beef, now employees 40 people. The number has jumped up dramatically since it was first established in 2013 with just four people. The majority of the employees come from a socially disadvantaged background.

While the number of employees has increased 10 times over in the last five years, sales have shot up by 20 times. Average daily sales, at just 280,000 won ($258) when the cafe was first opened, have now reached 6 million won.

The cafe’s success in rapidly scaling up both sales and employment are especially important because it is a social enterprise. Many similar companies have struggled to steadily increase sales and therefore employment. Jeonju Bread Cafe’s success in continuously growing sales has allowed it to employ more people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

SK Innovation’s support was also a big help in ensuring the success of the Jeonju Bread Cafe. SK Innovation provided the funds to help the cafe get started and has continued to provide support with a number of SK Innovation employees giving up their time to help support the cafe in marketing, accounting, management and promotion for free.

“SK Innovation will keep on sharing its infrastructure in a wide range of areas so that Jeonju Bread Cafe can continue returning social value,” said Lim Su-kil, head of PR at SK Innovation.

BY KIM MIN-JI [kim.minji4@joongang.co.kr]