South Korea-based coffee chain Ediya Coffee has named Jo Gyu-dong as its new CEO, succeeding Kim Sang-soo.
Gyu-dong joined Ediya in 2018, where he led the franchise and research divisions before taking on the role of distribution and supply chain management head.
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In his new position, Gyu-dong will serve as co-CEO alongside chairman Chang Gi Moon, as reported by Inside Retail.
The coffee chain has 4,000 outlets in South Korea.
In 2023, Ediya posted a decline in annual revenue, with group sales dropping by 1% year-on-year to Won276bn ($188m). Operating profits also fell, dropping 18% to Won8.2bn.
Since 2023, the company has been facing challenges with brand positioning amid rising competition from value-driven domestic operators and international brands, as reported by World Coffee Portal.
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By GlobalDataThis is said to have led to increasing dissatisfaction among franchisees over store-level profitability.
To revitalise the brand and address franchisee concerns, Chang-ki announced on 2 January 2025 that the coffee chain would “leap forward this year with change and innovation”.
Moon pledged to strengthen Ediya’s management team and streamline internal decision-making processes to boost its competitiveness in local markets.
Plans include a long-awaited brand overhaul, investment in franchisee operations and expansion into international markets.
