CU (store)

CU () () is a South Korean convenience store chain owned and operated by BGF Retail. It was formed after FamilyMart's franchise license in South Korea expired. As of 2025, the chain has more than 18,000 stores across South Korea and 680 stores in other parts of Asia, with future stores planned in the United States.

History

In 1990, the Bogwang Group formed a license contract with FamilyMart to launch convenience stores under the FamilyMart brand in South Korea. The first FamilyMart in South Korea opened in October 1990. On December 1, 1994, the Bogwang Group established a separate corporation; Bogwang FamilyMart (now the BGF Group) to oversee its convenience store operations division. The chain enjoyed steady growth, reaching 2,000 stores in 2003 and 5,000 stores by 2010.

Bogwang FamilyMart officially changed its name to BGF Retail on June 8, 2012, and subsequently announced the launching of its new convenience store brand "CU". South Korea's FamilyMart was officially renamed to CU on August 1, 2012, along with the opening of the first store utilizing the new name. The change came as BGF Retail aimed to create a "Korean-style" convenience store and cease its payment of royalties to FamilyMart.
In April 2019, CU has started a delivery service, and magnified the service to 1000 stores in May. In Oct 2024, CU announced that it had introduced the industry's first door-to-door home delivery service.

Foreign operations

Iran

CU launched its first foreign store in November 2018, in Tehran, Iran. However, the store had not even operated for a month when it had to close because of the United States' sanctions against Iran.

Kazakhstan

The first store opened in March 2024 in Almaty. In general, the project provides for the opening of about one hundred CU shops in Kazakhstan at the first stage. By 2029, BGF Retail plans to open 500 outlets in Kazakhstan and is also considering entering neighbouring markets.

Malaysia

CU opened its first stores within Malaysia in 2021, after reaching a partnership with local convenience store company myNews Holdings Bhd. CU plans to open 500 stores within Malaysia by 2026; the group will initially open 30 to 50 CU stores and assess their sales performance before expanding further. In April 2021, CU opened its first store in Centerpoint Bandar Utama.

Mongolia

CU has opened a net total of 363 stores; 348 stores in Ulaanbaatar, 3 in Erdenet City, 1 store in Darkhan-Uul, 1 in Lün, Töv Province, 1 in Kharkhorin, Ovorkhangai, 1 in Selenge, 1 in Khentii Province, 1 in Choir, Govisumber, CU competes with another Korean convenience chain, GS25, which has 124 stores throughout the capital region.

United States

In May 2025, CU announced it would expand to the U.S. market, with the first stores opening in Hawaii in the fourth quarter. The flagship store will be located at the Executive Centre in Honolulu.

Impersonation

Brazil

In October 2024, a ramen shop in Liberdade, São Paulo rebranded itself as a CU store, using aesthetic elements which were used by the Korean brand between 2012 and 2017. Despite its name and branding, the store is not affiliated with CU.

The fake CU store went viral online, as " cu" is a slang term for "anus" in Portuguese. The store attracts visitors from across Brazil with customers waiting more than an hour to get in.

Gallery

File:FamilyMart text logo 2007.svg, Logo used until August 1, 2012
File:CU BI (2012).svg, Logo used from August 1, 2012, to November 2017

Notes

References

External links

BGF Retails and CU

CU Mongolia
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CU Hawaii

Companies based in Seoul
South Korean brands
Retail companies of South Korea
Convenience stores of South Korea
Retail companies established in 1990
South Korean companies established in 1990

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