Jeonju Bread Cafe helps create jobs for socially vulnerable
Jeonju Bread Cafe in North Jeolla Province is creating social value as it has helped create jobs for the socially vulnerable and vitalize the regional economy.
The cafe was set up in 2013 with the support of SK Innovation, and in 2016 released its famous bread stuffed with the city’s local bibimbap, rice mixed with various ingredients and red chili paste.
When the cafe first opened, its daily sales were only 280,000 won ($259), but they have increased by 20 times, reaching about 6 million won now.
As a social enterprise, the cafe has consistently expanded its staff as sales grew. As of May, 40 people, mostly from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, work for the cafe, compared to just four in 2013.
The cafe’s success is considered unprecedented at a time when a number of other social enterprises have suffered difficulties in stably growing and creating more jobs.
Jeonju Bread Cafe has also contributed to activating the regional economy as it uses ingredients such as wheat, eggs and red chili paste being sold at the city’s traditional markets.
“We spend about 10 million won every month buying vegetables at nearby traditional markets,” a cafe official said. “We hope the regional economy can be vitalized whenever our bread is sold.”
An official from SK Innovation, the energy arm of SK Group, said the firm will continue to support the cafe.
“What we need to do is enable the growth of a social enterprise to be directly connected to the creation of social value,” the official said.
The firm funded 150 million won when the cafe was founded and has so far supported the cafe’s accounting, finance, production management, marketing and promotions.