IRO Sushi, one of the fastest-growing sushi brands in the UK, has signed five new locations in Basingstoke, Bristol, Ipswich, Ilford and Maidenhead, as it accelerates its ambitious UK expansion strategy.
Founded in 2014 by trained sushi chef Chhong Sherpa, IRO Sushi serves fresh, made-to-order, restaurant-quality sushi and Japanese-inspired dishes at affordable prices across the UK.
The new openings will take IRO Sushi’s estate to 38 locations and strengthen its presence in existing regions, including the Thames Valley and Home Counties, while also marking entry into new towns and cities such as Bristol and Ipswich.
All stores will roll out in the brand’s newly enhanced store design, which is inspired by traditional Japanese ‘Izakayas’. Each store will bring an authentic experience to customers underpinned by technology to drive operational performance.
The new sites will further expand IRO Sushi’s presence into a number of strategically important and relatively underserved catchments, bringing its restaurant-quality, accessible proposition to new customer bases across the UK.
The new signings follow continued momentum across the business. Last year, the group delivered system sales of £18.5m, up 29% year-on-year, and 19% on a like-for-like basis. With a growing pipeline of committed sites and franchise partners, the Group is on track to deliver on its ambition to reach 100 locations by 2030.
Chhong Sherpa, Founder & CEO of IRO Sushi, said: “This is another significant milestone for IRO Sushi. Over the last six months, we’ve worked hard to refine our proposition with the launch of our new store format and continue evolving our menu. Now, with the foundations firmly in place, we’re ready to turbocharge our growth with the opening of new sites across the UK.
This will see us look to strengthen our footprint in high-growth areas of the country, such as the Home Counties and London, and broaden our reach with the opening of new locations in new towns and cities. This will create new opportunities for us to introduce the brand to more consumers, continue evolving our proposition, and take a step closer to becoming the brand of choice for lovers of sushi and Japanese cuisine across the country.
