South Korean bakery giant SPC Group has been fully absolved of a 64.7 billion won ($46.8 million) fine, as the Supreme Court upheld a ruling in the company's favor in its lawsuit against the nation's antitrust watchdog for allegedly unfairly supporting its affiliates. The Supreme Court confirmed on Monday a lawsuit filed by five SPC Group affiliates, including SPC Samlip, against the FTC, to cancel the fine. In July 2020, the FTC claimed that SPC funneled a total of 41.4 billion won in

Samyang Roundsquare, the South Korean food giant renowned for its spicy Buldak ramyeon series, acknowledged that it wasn't until 2014 that the company recognized the importance of social media marketing after a viral video by Joshua Daryl Carrott, creator of the YouTube channel Korean Englishman, showcasing Buldak products. “We cannot say that the very beginning of the Buldak series, which launched in 2012, was successful. However, as it gained more traction with the Buldak Challenge

SPC Group said Thursday its bakery chain Paris Baguette had launched its first store in the Philippines. The new Paris Baguette branch in Manila features wooden interiors, designed to create a premium European bakery ambiance, and is located on the first floor of the SM Mall of Asia, the largest shopping center in the Philippines, with a total of 90 seats available. In August, SPG Group signed a franchise agreement with a local retailer Berjaya Food Berhad. This deal falls under the so-called &q

Hur Young-in, the chairman of South Korean bakery giant SPC Group, was arrested on Friday for allegedly forcing workers to quit their labor union. The Seoul Central District Court on Friday issued an arrest warrant for the 74-year-old chairman on suspicion of violating the Trade Union Act, citing concerns that Hur may try to destroy evidence. With the warrant, prosecutors will take the chairman into custody and investigate if Hur was involved in anti-labor practices for a maximum of 20 days. Hur

Prosecutors arrested Hur Young-in, chair of South Korean bakery giant SPC Group, after he repeatedly failed to comply with being summoned for an investigation. The 74-year-old is under investigation for his suspected involvement in forcing bakers at PB Partners to quit their membership in the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions umbrella labor group, between 2019 and 2022. PB Partners is SPC's subsidiary in charge of recruiting and training bakers for bakery chain Paris Baguette. Prosecut

SPC Group's bakery chain Paris Baguette is poised to enter the Italian market in collaboration with Italian coffeehouse chain Caffe Pascucci. SPC Group Chair Hur Young-in inked a business agreement with Mario Pascucci, CEO of the Italian coffee brand Caffe Pascucci, during Pascucci’s visit to Korea on Sunday, for the Korean franchise bakery's expansion to Italy. Paris Baguette's entry into Italy will mark its third expansion into Europe, following launches in France and Brit

Fair Trade Commission Chair Han Ki-jeong on Thursday shared the key policies of the antitrust regulator for this year, including the controversial anti-monopoly platform bill, at a conference hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea. “The Fair Trade Commission will strive to establish a fair market economy system that serves as the basis for economic stability and market innovation,” Han said, citing deepening inflation and high interest rates as continued economic difficu

Prosecutors on Tuesday requested an arrest warrant for SPC Group CEO Hwang Jae-bok over allegations of pressuring employees to cancel their labor union membership. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said that it has sought an arrest warrant for Hwang, who has allegedly violated Korean labor law and engaged in bribery of an investigator. Hwang is accused of trying to force some of PB Partners' employees who joined the umbrella Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to quit the

South Korea's SPC Group said Monday its bakery chain Paris Baguette launched its first store in Hawaii in a bid to boost global brand awareness. With the addition of the new outlet, Paris Baguette now runs 160 stores in the United States. Strategically situated on Bishop Street, a prime location within Honolulu's bustling business district, the opening is a part of the company's international expansion strategy. "Hawaii is a world famous tourist destination that can play a st

Sprinkles Cupcakes, the famed cupcake specialist from California, is poised for a debut in the Korean market this year – its first venture beyond US borders, according to the company on Friday. Sprinkles said it will introduce its trendy cupcakes, cookies and chocolate treats globally this year, with imminent expansions planned for Singapore and Malaysia as well. For the upcoming Seoul store, the firm is expected to team up with Korean bakery giant SPC Samlip. For other international openi

SPC Group on Monday opened “Workshop by Baskin Robbins,” a creative research lab for the ice cream chain to study next-generation products based on artificial intelligence and other futuristic technologies. Located at the food giant’s headquarters in southern Seoul, the company said, new and more experimental products will be introduced first via the venue to gauge consumer sentiment. (SPC Group)

Several advertisers are facing pressure to cancel their contracts with South Korean soccer star Lee Kang-in, following the 23-year-old’s alleged discord with national soccer team captain Son Heung-min. According to industry officials on Monday, some companies intending to feature the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder in their advertisements are reevaluating their decisions, while others are considering whether to suspend existing contracts. Chicken chain Alachi, which Lee has represented sinc

The Seoul Central District Court on Friday acquitted Hur Young-in, chairman of South Korea's largest bakery chain, SPC Group, of charges related to gift tax evasion through undervalued share transactions. Hur was accused of selling shares of Mildawon, the family-owned grain company, at below-market rates in December 2012 to avoid gift taxes. The shares sold for 255 won each, markedly lower than their 2011 appraised value of 1,180 won and their 2008 purchase price of 3,038 won. Prosecutors c

South Korean food and bakery giant SPC Group has been spared from a fine of 64.7 billion won ($48.6 million) as Seoul’s high court ruled in favor of the company in its lawsuit filed against the nation’s antitrust watchdog. In 2020, the Korea Fair Trade Commission imposed fines, together with a corrective order, alleging that SPC affiliates, including Paris Croissant, SPL, BR Korea, and Shany, unfairly supported SPC Samlip, the group’s only listed firm, to raise its stock price

South Korea posted a new record high in food exports last year, driven by the steadily increasing global interest in Korean culture and strategic initiatives by food companies who have rigorously promoted their products overseas. The total export value of agricultural and food products reached $9 billion by the end of the third week of December, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. This marks a 3 percent increase compared to the same period in 2022, setting a new all