News On Japan

Kura Sushi plans New York location in expansion abroad

Chain targets $1bn in overseas sales by 2030 as weak yen hits earnings at home

TOKYO, Oct 12 (Nikkei) - Japanese conveyor-belt sushi chain Kura Sushi will open its first New York State location by August 2024 in an ambitious expansion campaign that aims to quadruple its overseas network.

The company plans to grow from 88 locations outside Japan -- all in the U.S. and Taiwan -- to 400 by 2030, including in other Asian markets. It targets 150 billion yen ($1.03 billion) in foreign sales by that year, more than nine times the year ended in October, 2021.

As of the end of September, Kura Sushi operated 40 restaurants in the U.S., across 12 states and Washington, D.C. The company sees room for as many as 300 locations nationwide, and hopes to start by establishing a foothold in the country's 20 biggest metro areas. Its plans include multiple restaurants in New York State. ...continue reading

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