New Product Development and Menu Expansion to Meet Customer Needs

「In terms of products, in addition to fairs centered on high-quality products such as Domestic Wild-Caught Bluefin Tuna, featuring fatty and medium-fatty tuna, and Premium Crab, featuring assortments of snow crab and red king crab, the Ultra-Aged series, which uses the latest processing technology at our central kitchens, and the Pre-Meal Plate series, which supports healthy habits, also performed well.」

「In addition to fairs centered on high-quality products such as snow crab, known as the king of crabs, and sea urchin prepared without any alum, a food additive, we began selling the Ultra-Aged Series, including ultra-aged tuna and ultra-aged pufferfish made using the latest two-stage aging technology at our central kitchen, as well as the Pre-Meal Dish Series, which supports healthy eating habits by offering convenient small servings of vegetables at the start of a meal.」

「We held fairs centered on high-quality products, including the Ehime Fair featuring seafood and fruit from Ehime Prefecture. Around Valentine's Day and the Doll Festival, we offered sweets made with premium Belgian chocolate and colorful chirashi sushi. Nandeyanen!? Sushi Hamada's Lips II, developed together with Masatoshi Hamada and the other members of Downtown, who appear in our commercials, attracted considerable attention.」

「We also worked to reduce the cost ratio by leveraging our strength in frontline operations and having management and frontline operations work as one to conduct detailed product design for individual products as appropriate.」

「In Japan, sales remained strong as a result of fairs centered on high-quality products that are among our strengths, such as tuna and crab, and collaborations with the hugely popular character Chiikawa and the popular anime series Detective Conan, whose theatrical film was released. With management and frontline operations working as one, we also carried out detailed product design for individual products as appropriate, resulting in record-high sales and ordinary income for the second quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period.」

「As a result of holding fairs centered on popular products such as crab and tuna and campaigns offering merchandise through a collaboration with the popular anime series Blue Lock, sales exceeded the year-earlier period. Detailed product design tailored to each product also resulted in record-high sales and operating income for the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period.」

「In sales, we fully introduced the Kura's Finest Series in April 2023, offering seasonal local fish from each region every week, and expanded availability nationwide from July 2023.」

「In sales, we fully introduced the Kura's Finest Series in April, offering seasonal local fish from each region every week, and expanded availability nationwide from July. In addition to holding fairs centered on popular products such as crab and tuna, we conducted campaigns including merchandise giveaways through a collaboration with the popular virtual streamer group Nijisanji. As a result, sales for the third quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period reached a record high.」

「In July, we added the Freshly Prepared Series to our lineup, featuring freshly fried tempura and crisp nori made possible by the characteristics of our Order Lane. In conjunction with the fairs, we also held campaigns through Bikkura-Pon! offering merchandise from popular anime series including One Piece and BT21 as prizes.」

「During the third quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period, we continued proposing a wide range of products to enhance customer satisfaction. In sales promotion, amid difficulties securing raw materials caused by disruptions to distribution networks, we held the fourth Crab Fair of the fiscal year in July 2022, as well as the Toro and Ikura Fair, receiving favorable customer feedback.」

「During the second quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period, we continued proposing a wide range of products to enhance customer satisfaction. Amid difficulties securing raw materials caused by disruptions to distribution networks, we held events including the Crab Fair, the Otoro and Ehime Fair, and the Toro and Ikura Fair, receiving favorable customer feedback.」

「During the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period, we continued proposing a wide range of products to enhance customer satisfaction.」

「To meet growing demand for takeaway, we expanded the Ouchi de Kura Sushi service, which allows customers to enjoy Kura Sushi's flavors at home. In May 2020, we also began selling takeaway udon and ramen at selected restaurants, receiving favorable customer feedback.」

「As part of our product strategy, we added popular noodle dishes, including udon and ramen, to our takeaway lineup in May. In June, we launched a collaboration campaign with the popular anime series Demon Slayer, featuring products such as the three-way Kinmedai Sea Bream Platter in conjunction with the Seasonal Premium Series. In July, we worked to improve customer satisfaction through high-quality product proposals, including the launch of Kiwami Aged AI Tuna, which uses AI technology to assess tuna quality.」

「During the first quarter of the current consolidated cumulative period, we continued proposing a wide range of products to enhance customer satisfaction.」

「In September 2019, we launched KURA ROYAL as a premium sweets brand. Like the Seasonal Premium Series, we will continue offering seasonal products as original sweets made with carefully selected ingredients, including the Abundant Ripe Mango Parfait and Brown Sugar Tapioca Milk Tea.」

「In March 2019, we launched the Seasonal Premium Series, offering high-end seasonal ingredients. Through collaboration with more than 100 fisheries cooperatives with which we have built relationships over more than 10 years, we will continue proposing fresh ingredients, including domestically caught wild longtooth grouper, thick-cut cherry sea bream, thick-cut straw-roasted young bonito and freshly seared eel, in each season when they are at their most delicious and nutritious.」

「In March 2019, we became the first major conveyor-belt sushi chain to launch KURA BURGER (¥250 before tax), a hamburger created through the "100% Fish Project," an initiative to use wild-caught fish without waste.」

「In July 2018, we evolved the flavor of the vinegared rice that we had maintained for 41 years since the company's founding into "Healthy Black Vinegar Shari," a rich and flavorful version made with 3 types of black vinegar. Black vinegar is said to benefit health and beauty because it is aged for a long period and contains many essential amino acids. Customers have also given it high marks, saying that "the flavor has become gentler" and "the ingredients' flavors are more distinct." During the first nine months of the fiscal year, we continued to propose a variety of products to enhance customer satisfaction. In July 2018, we launched "Dream Fluffy Snow" (¥250 before tax). This new-style shaved ice is made using a state-of-the-art machine that can shave high-purity ice into thin flakes, giving it a name inspired by its fluffy, snow-like texture that melts smoothly in the mouth. Sales were strong, helped by the extremely hot weather.」

「In March 2018, we launched Kura Sushi's first Western-style menu items, the new-style Italian dishes "Carbonara Spaghetti" (¥370 before tax) and "Italian Cheese Hamburger" (¥250 before tax). "Carbonara Spaghetti" combines 3 types of cheese with 7 seafood broths, and customers have responded favorably, describing it as rich yet refreshing and delicious.」

「In November 2017, we launched a new sushi series called "Takehime Sushi." The sushi is served in a bamboo-shaped container and is designed to be eaten with chopsticks or a spoon. Its unique design became a topic of discussion on social media, and customers responded favorably, saying that "small children can eat it with a spoon."」

「In August 2017, we launched the new "Carbohydrate-Reduced Series," a healthy new-style menu. "Shari Vegetables" (¥100 before tax), which combines shrimp and other sushi toppings with pickled daikon radish instead of vinegared rice, reduces carbohydrates by 60% to 80% compared with conventional sushi.」

「In March 2017, we launched "Pirate Shari Curry" and "Sweet-and-Spicy Double Shari Curry" (¥450 each before tax), new products in the Shari Curry series, which had exceeded 7 million cumulative servings through products such as Shari Curry Udon and Shari Curry Bread.」

「Launched in November 2016, "Gyudon Beyond Gyudon, 'Gyudon'" (¥380 before tax) uses Kura Sushi's distinctive seven-seafood sauce as its defining flavor. The combination of tender beef and pleasantly textured onions has been well received by customers as having a "nostalgic, gentle flavor." In January 2017, under the slogan "A Taste of China from Kura Sushi," we launched "Sesame-flavored Tantanmen" (¥360 before tax) from the popular Kura Sushi Ramen series, which had sold more than 30 million servings cumulatively.」

「Under the product-development principle of "achieving the best possible taste at that price," we make more than 3,000 types of prototypes annually and work to develop menus that can compete with those of specialty restaurants.」

「During the first nine months of the fiscal year, we continued to propose a variety of products to enhance customer satisfaction. In May, we launched a new product, "Seven Seafood Sauces: Hiyashi Chuka Has Begun" (¥350 before tax), as a new standard summer menu item. In July, we launched two products, "Shari Curry Udon" and "Shari Curry Udon (Mild)" (¥350 each before tax), the second installment in the popular "Sushiya's Shari Curry" series, which had sold a cumulative total of 3 million bowls. Also in July, we launched the third installment in the "Sushiya's Shari Curry" series, "Shari Curry Bread" (¥150 before tax), made with freshly baked bread, a first among major conveyor-belt sushi chains, and sales got off to a strong start. In July, we also launched "Shari Cola" (¥180 before tax), the world's first carbonated beverage made from amazake produced from rice koji.」