South Korean burger and chicken chain Mom’s Touch is entering Kazakhstan through a master franchise agreement with Shin-Line Group, targeting more than 50 outlets over the next decade as it steps up its expansion across Central Asia.
The agreement, announced on October 26, 2026, was signed with MOM’S TOUCH CENTRAL ASIA LLP, a restaurant subsidiary of Shin-Line Group. The partnership covers Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, with Kazakhstan set to lead the rollout. The first restaurant is expected to open in the first half of 2027, followed by expansion into major cities, including Astana.
The 50-plus-outlet target reflects the partners’ ambition over the next 10 years, positioning Kazakhstan as a long-term growth market for the South Korean brand.
Shin-Line brings established food manufacturing, distribution and retail operations to the partnership. Founded in 1995, the group has interests in ice cream, frozen foods and other food products, with exports reaching around 10 Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. It also operates more than 70 outlets of South Korean convenience store chain CU in Kazakhstan, providing experience in developing Korean consumer brands in the local market.
For Mom’s Touch, the partnership offers access to an established local operator and its distribution infrastructure, potentially easing the operational challenges of building a restaurant network in a new market.
The brand plans to introduce its signature chicken-thigh burgers, fried chicken and pizza. Its menu combines several quick-service restaurant categories, giving the company multiple product lines to build consumer demand and differentiate its offering in Kazakhstan’s competitive foodservice market.
The expansion builds on Mom’s Touch’s wider international franchising strategy. The company entered Uzbekistan through a master franchise arrangement in 2025 and is now strengthening its position in Central Asia. Its agreement with Shin-Line also creates a route to explore neighbouring markets, with Kyrgyzstan included in the partnership’s territory.
Under the master franchise model, the local partner takes responsibility for developing the brand within the agreed market, enabling Mom’s Touch to expand through a locally established operator rather than building its entire network independently.
The first restaurant opening in 2027 will be an important test of the concept’s appeal and operating model. Its performance will help shape the pace of subsequent openings as the partners work towards their 50-plus-store target.
