Jun. 30 at 10:21 PM
Kura Sushi plans to expand its U.S. restaurant count by 20% annually as it moves to secure market share before more Japanese conveyor-belt sushi chains enter North America, Bloomberg reported. The company expects to surpass 100 U.S. locations this year after supply-chain issues that delayed restaurant equipment deliveries were resolved. Kura, which opened its first U.S. restaurant in California in 2009, ultimately aims to operate around 300 locations nationwide.
U.S. COO Hajime Uba said the company wants to establish itself in key markets before rivals expand, allowing Kura to capture a larger share of incremental demand. Management does not plan to slow store openings to prioritize near-term profitability, instead focusing on long-term expansion.
The strategy comes as Japanese sushi chains increasingly target North America for growth. Rival Sushiro is expected to enter the U.S. market later this year as operators look beyond Asia.
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