Fuji Group, the local Japanese restaurant chain pioneer, is expanding through a joint venture with Ichibanya, the largest Japanese curry house, to use Thailand as a springboard into Southeast Asia. A new company, Ichibanya Midwest Asia, has been set up with registered capital of 50 million baht. Fuji Group holds a 51% stake and Ichibanya and its partners the remainder.
Daisaku Tanaka, managing director of Fuji Group, said the company had invested 20 million baht to open its first CoCoIchibanya outlet at The Esplanade shopping centre on Ratchadaphisek road.
Thailand is the first location in Southeast Asia for CoCoIchibanya and the fifth worldwide after the United States, China, Taiwan and South Korea.
The company plans to open five new outlets next year and increase to 10 in the near future. All 10 branches will be operated by the company but future expansion could involve franchising.
”We saw the huge potential in the Thai market because it’s a big population and open to new food cultures, particularly Japanese food,” said Toshiya Hamajima, the CEO of Ichibanya Co.
Fuji Confident Of New Curry Brand
August 18, 2008 by Cris | 0 Comments
In Basic Guidelines, Law & Agreements, Brand, Franchises, Restaurants, Strategy
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