DAEJEON — Daejeon City has officially recognized and honored five local enterprises as its "2026 Promising Small Businesses," awarding them commemorative plaques for their outstanding growth and potential.

The selected businesses are Anc, Cerecify, KUA, Guild Coffee, and Nature Assemble.

Earlier this year in January, the city launched a comprehensive selection process targeting local businesses that have operated for three or more years. Out of 136 applicants, these five enterprises stood out after rigorous evaluations assessing their growth strategies, market expansion potential, and product creativity.

Selected companies received an initial support fund of 20 million KRW. Following a mid-term evaluation, two top-performing businesses were chosen to receive an additional 25 million KRW. The funding directly supported essential commercialization tasks, including new product development, marketing campaigns, and product design.

As a result of this initiative, the enterprises have achieved remarkable milestones, such as increased revenue and employment figures, expanded online sales channels, and successful entry into overseas markets, effectively establishing themselves as competitive brands representing Daejeon.

Spotlight on the Selected Brands

Anc: A premium local bakery brand founded by a state-certified master confectioner with over a decade of field experience. Anc recently developed 15 new whole-grain bakery products, opened its second branch in Tanbang-dong, and won the top Grand Prize at the 2026 Korea International Bakery Fair, proving its technical excellence and reliability.
Cerecify: A specialized cosmetics enterprise that manages the entire production cycle—from product planning and development to manufacturing, packaging, and sales—using its own production facilities. This year, the company diversified its sales channels through a pop-up store in Seongsu-dong, entries into national pharmacies and AK Plaza Bundang, and live-commerce operations both domestically and internationally.
KUA: Launched in 2022 as South Korea’s first science café, KUA is a unique local brand combining science with everyday life. It offers over 40 science-themed food and beverage items, 470 science goods, and 120 DIY experience kits. By collaborating with research institutions in the Daedeok Innopolis, KUA has secured a distinct competitive edge.
Guild Coffee: Established in 2019, this regional coffee enterprise specializes in coffee bean roasting and wholesale across Daejeon and the Chungcheong region. Backed by proprietary roasting technology and strict quality control, Guild Coffee has achieved a stable business model with an average annual growth rate of 13% and an annual supply of approximately 17 tons of coffee beans.
Nature Assemble: A technology-driven enterprise specializing in hypoallergenic, eco-friendly functional cosmetics powered by natural ingredients and dermatological science. Leveraging the founder's research expertise and systematic product validation, the company has secured overseas distribution channels, including sales contracts in Japan and Mongolia, alongside ongoing business matching in Vietnam.

City officials emphasized that the growth and leap forward of small businesses breathe new life into local alleyway commercial districts and strengthen the regional economy's overall competitiveness. The city reaffirmed its commitment to providing continuous policy support so that these passionate enterprises can serve as successful models nationwide.

Since 2023, Daejeon City has annually selected and supported promising small businesses, expanding the scale to five companies this year. The program has proven highly effective, yielding up to a 58% increase in sales, successful overseas expansions, and a 200% boost in productivity for participants. Building on this success, the city plans to further expand the scale and increase the number of beneficiaries starting in 2027.

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