Bonchon, the globally celebrated Korean fried chicken brand known for its hand-battered, double-fried method and signature sauces, today announced that Blas Escarcega has joined the company as Chief Development Officer. In this role, Escarcega will lead all aspects of franchise development in the United States, including market planning, franchise recruitment, site selection, and new restaurant growth strategy. Escarcega brings more than two decades of development experience, including leading large-scale expansion initiatives, strengthening franchise pipelines, and optimizing real estate strategies for nationally recognized concepts. He will oversee Bonchon’s continued march toward accelerated U.S. expansion as the brand builds on its recent momentum. “Blas is a seasoned, respected development leader who understands how to scale great brands with intention,” says Suzie Tsai, CEO of Bonchon. “As Bonchon continues to expand into new markets and strengthen our national footprint, his expertise in franchise growth, market analytics, and operator partnerships will be invaluable. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team.” As Bonchon advances, the brand is rolling out a new fast casual prototype designed to deliver operational efficiency in a smaller footprint. The new model features a kitchen-forward layout and streamlined service design in under 2,000 square feet, allowing operators to enter high-demand trade areas with strong unit economics and lower build-out costs. This format enables Bonchon to expand flexibly into priority markets across Texas, California, Arizona, Nevada, Florida, the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Northeast corridor including New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, while also opening the door to non-traditional venues,…
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