Plating

About Plating

Plating (plating.co.kr), registered as Plating Corporation, is a South Korean food-tech entity focused on the corporate catering market. Initially established in July 2015 by Paul Chang (Jang Kyung-wook), the company began with a business-to-consumer (B2C) model, delivering chef-prepared meals to homes. The founder, who previously established and successfully exited a Silicon Valley startup, identified an opportunity in the Korean market for high-quality, accessible meal delivery.

After three years of operating in the B2C space, Plating strategically pivoted to a business-to-business (B2B) model, rebranding its core offering as a "visiting cafeteria" service (Cafeteria-as-a-Service). This shift targeted companies without dedicated in-house dining facilities, providing a subscription-based solution for daily employee meals. The service is designed to be a comprehensive meal-welfare partner for businesses, particularly fast-growing startups and the Korean branches of multinational corporations like Netflix Korea and Airbnb Korea. The business generates revenue through subscription plans for daily breakfast and lunch services, as well as on-demand catering for corporate events.

Plating’s service portfolio includes buffet-style catering and individual lunch boxes, with menus featuring Korean, Chinese, and other Asian cuisines prepared by chefs with backgrounds in fine dining and luxury hotels. The company manages the entire value chain, from menu development and cooking to delivery and collection, utilizing a smart factory approach to optimize logistics. This model eliminates the need for clients to invest in kitchen infrastructure. The company has attracted investments from notable venture capital firms, including CJ Group, Strong Ventures, and FuturePlay. However, it faced financial difficulties, leading to corporate rehabilitation proceedings and a merger and acquisition deal with Groom Investment in early 2024.