Genesis BBQ targets Latin America with second Panama store

Genesis BBQ Group Chairman Yoon Hong-geun, center, attends the grand opening ceremony in Panama on Wednesday. [GENESIS BBQ]

Korean chicken franchise Genesis BBQ opened a second store in Panama as it aims to increase its presence in Central and South America.

The second store is located in Albrook Mall, one of the largest shopping centers in Latin America.

The new establishment will benefit from its prime location, known for its high floating population owing to its direct connection to the airport, bus terminal, and subway station, Genesis BBQ said Thursday. Notably, sales at the Albrook branch hit $4,000 on its opening day on Wednesday.

Genesis BBQ's first store in Panama, the San Francisco branch, is seeing daily average sales of $5,000. The San Francisco Store opened on May 17.

"We will expand the 'K-chicken' syndrome from North America to South America, as we aim to become a brand that tantalizes taste buds globally," Genesis BBQ Chairman Yoon Hong-geun said.

Korean-style chicken is well known for its crispy and crunchy exterior. Unlike traditional American fried chicken, which is often dipped in sauce after cooking, K-chicken is seasoned before frying, allowing the flavors to penetrate into the meat.

Yoon also revealed that the franchise is considering opening another store in Costa Rica in addition to Panama to bolster the brand's presence in Central America.

Currently, Genesis BBQ operates a network of over 700 stores across 57 countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, and Malaysia. Panama is the first Genesis BBQ store to operate in both Central and South America.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]