South Korean fast-food chain Mom’s Touch is reportedly back on the market. Industry insiders revealed on Sunday that its private equity owner is considering a sale, approximately four years after a previous attempt was abandoned.
KL & Partners, the firm controlling Mom’s Touch through a special-purpose vehicle, is expected to appoint a financial advisor as early as April, with the goal of finalizing the sale by the end of the year. Sources indicate that the company is aiming for a valuation exceeding 1 trillion won (approximately $665 million USD).
KL & Partners initially acquired a 56.8% stake in Mom’s Touch for around 200 billion won in 2019, later increasing its ownership to 95% and taking the company private. A sale was previously explored in 2022, targeting a valuation of about 1 trillion won, but the plan was shelved due to a downturn in the food service sector.
Mom’s Touch, the largest fast-food chain in South Korea with roughly 1,480 locations, has demonstrated improved financial performance recently, potentially justifying a higher valuation in this renewed sale process.
In 2025, the company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) reached approximately 102 billion won, a year-over-year increase of over 20%. Based on typical EBITDA multiples of 10 to 13 for food franchise businesses, industry experts estimate the company’s potential value at up to 1.3 trillion won.
Since acquiring Mom’s Touch, KL & Partners has focused on expanding the brand’s reach and profitability by optimizing store-level operations, engaging in celebrity collaborations, and venturing into Asian markets such as Thailand, Japan, and Mongolia.
Mom’s Touch reported revenue of 417.9 billion won in 2024, around 45% higher than in 2019, while operating profit significantly increased by 286% to 73.4 billion won over the same period.
