South Korean burger chain Mom's Touch plans to open at least 50 stores in Kazakhstan over the next decade, expanding its Central Asian footprint through a master franchise deal with local food conglomerate Shin-Line Group.
The agreement, signed with Shin-Line's restaurant subsidiary Mom's Touch Central Asia LLP, also covers neighboring Kyrgyzstan, the company said Monday. The first Kazakhstan outlet is scheduled to open in the first half of 2027.
The move follows Mom's Touch's entry into Uzbekistan through a master franchise agreement in 2025. The company aims to establish Kazakhstan as another regional hub, with plans to expand into major cities, including Astana.
Its local partner, Shin-Line, controls more than 40 percent of Central Asia's ice cream market and operates a cold-chain logistics network serving about 10 countries. The group also runs more than 70 outlets of a South Korean convenience store chain, mainly in Almaty.
Mom's Touch plans to introduce its signature chicken burgers made with whole chicken-thigh fillets, alongside fried chicken and pizza.
The company sees potential demand for its chicken-focused menu in Kazakhstan, where roughly 70 percent of the population is Muslim and meat-based dishes are widely consumed.
"We are preparing to open our first store in the first half of next year and develop Kazakhstan into a key base for our Central Asian operations," a Mom's Touch official said.
yejinlim@heraldcorp.com
