Rotary sushi chains' profits squeezed by material costs

Japan’s major sushi chains raised its prices this fall and costs have outstripped the amount of the rise, leaving chains to eat the difference.

Akindo Sushiro Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Kumamoto City-based Food & Life Companies, implemented its price hike on 1 October. Its competitor, Kura Sushi, based in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, followed suit. While these price increases were in the range of 5 to 10 percent, material costs have gone up much faster. The government’s consumer price index reports showed that fish and seafood rose the most among retail food costs, up 13.9 percent year-on-year in October  …

Photo courtesy of Kura Sushi USA/LinkedIn