Strengthening the domestic business base and establishing new brands alongside Ippudo

「In Japan, the company opened 13 new stores and added 8 stores to the Group through M&A, while strategically closing 4 stores whose fixed-term leases had expired, stores expected to see declining future profitability and unprofitable stores. As a result, the number of stores increased by 17 from the previous fiscal year.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 5 Ippudo stores and 1 Inaba Udon store, while closing 3 Ippudo stores. In addition, 6 Kaede stores and 2 Kanade stores were added through M&A, bringing the business to 167 stores as of the end of the interim consolidated accounting period, an increase of 11 from the end of the previous fiscal year.」

「In February 2025, the company resolved to acquire 株式会社ライズ, which operates miso ramen restaurants, through an M&A transaction. The company will become part of the Group from the fiscal year ending March 2026, with the aim of expanding the business.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 9 Ippudo stores and 1 Inaba Udon store, while closing 3 Ippudo stores, 2 RAMEN EXPRESS stores and 1 Inaba Udon store. As a result, the business had 149 stores as of the end of the interim consolidated accounting period, an increase of 4 from the end of the previous fiscal year. It also changed the format of 1 RAMEN EXPRESS store to Ippudo.」

「In Japan, the company opened 12 new stores and strategically closed 6 stores whose fixed-term leases had expired, stores expected to see declining future profitability and unprofitable stores, resulting in an increase of 6 stores from the previous fiscal year.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 10 Ippudo stores and 1 Gogyou store, while closing 3 Ippudo stores and 2 RAMEN EXPRESS stores. As a result, the business had 145 stores as of the end of the third quarter, an increase of 6 from the end of the previous fiscal year, including 11 new store openings in total.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 7 Ippudo stores and closed 2 Ippudo stores and 2 RAMEN EXPRESS stores. As a result, the business had 142 stores as of the end of the second quarter, an increase of 3 from the end of the previous fiscal year.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 4 Ippudo stores and closed 2 Ippudo stores and 1 RAMEN EXPRESS store. As a result, the business had 140 stores as of the end of the first quarter, an increase of 1 from the end of the previous fiscal year.」

「Recognizing the importance of improving the profitability of existing stores, the company will actively open stores not only in densely populated areas and highly attractive commercial facilities, but also in medium-sized trading areas near central urban districts and roadside locations. It will also proceed with the strategic closure of stores expected to see declining future profitability and unprofitable stores, thereby improving its earnings structure.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 13 Ippudo stores and 1 Inaba Udon store, while closing 7 Ippudo stores, 2 RAMEN EXPRESS stores, 2 Najimatei stores and 1 Inaba Udon store. As a result, the business had 145 stores as of the end of the third quarter, an increase of 2 from the end of the previous fiscal year. The company also changed the format of 2 RAMEN EXPRESS stores to Ippudo.」

「Against this backdrop, based on its corporate philosophy of "continuing to change in order not to change," the Group opened 10 new stores in Japan. It also reopened the Ippudo Shinjuku Lumine Est store as a renovated location with plant-based products made exclusively from plant-derived ingredients as regular menu items, and resumed operations at the Ippudo Narita Airport store in April 2022 as entry restrictions were eased. Meanwhile, it closed 11 unprofitable stores.」

「In Japan, the company opened 5 stores, including 3 under a low-investment, quick-payback revenue model. As entry restrictions were eased, it resumed operations at the Ippudo Narita Airport store in April 2022. It also strategically closed 6 unprofitable stores.」

「In addition to opening 7 stores under the new revenue model pursued since the previous fiscal year, the company strategically closed 7 unprofitable stores. It also introduced mobile ordering and ticket vending machines to improve productivity, and enhanced product offerings through takeout and delivery to stimulate new demand.」

「In Japan, the company opened 7 new stores under a low-investment, quick-payback revenue model targeting small trading areas near central urban districts and roadside locations, an initiative undertaken since the previous fiscal year.」

「In addition to opening 4 stores under the new revenue model pursued since the previous fiscal year, the company changed the format of 4 RAMEN EXPRESS stores to Ippudo to achieve economies of scale in procurement of raw materials, consumables and promotional costs, as well as to increase customer traffic.」

「In Japan, new store openings based on a low-investment, quick-payback business model targeting small trading areas near central urban districts and roadside locations, an initiative undertaken since the previous fiscal year, progressed smoothly and supported performance.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company also accelerated the strategic closures it had been implementing since before the spread of COVID-19, seeking to deploy management resources efficiently.」

「In August 2020, the company opened Japan's first Kuroobi store, a takeout ramen brand launched in New York, and introduced delivery services through Demae-can, one of Japan's largest delivery platforms, focusing on creating new revenue opportunities. At the same time, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it reviewed its store-opening strategy, including the strategic relocation and closure of stores in trading areas with limited future potential and aging stores.」

「The company increased the number of Ippudo stores by 2, but closed 1 Ippudo store, 3 RAMEN EXPRESS stores and 1 PANDA EXPRESS store. As a result, the domestic store operations business had 145 stores as of the end of the first quarter, a decrease of 3 from the end of the previous fiscal year.」

「1. Rebuilding the domestic business base Recognizing the importance of strengthening existing domestic stores and improving profitability, the Group will selectively open stores from the perspectives of profitability and branding in order to maintain and enhance customer value for its core Ippudo brand.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 3 Ippudo stores, 6 RAMEN EXPRESS stores, 3 PANDA EXPRESS stores and 1 Najimatei store, adding 13 stores in total. After closing 2 Ippudo stores and 1 RAMEN EXPRESS store, the business had 153 stores as of the end of the third quarter, an increase of 10 from the end of the previous fiscal year.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 2 Ippudo stores, 3 RAMEN EXPRESS stores, 2 PANDA EXPRESS stores and 1 Najimatei store, adding 8 stores in total. After closing 2 Ippudo stores and 1 RAMEN EXPRESS store, the business had 148 stores as of the end of the second quarter, an increase of 5 from the end of the previous fiscal year.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 2 Ippudo stores, 1 RAMEN EXPRESS store, 1 PANDA EXPRESS store and 1 Najimatei store, adding 5 stores in total. After closing 2 Ippudo stores, the business had 146 stores as of the end of the first quarter, an increase of 3.」

「Although the company changed its strategy from expanding across multiple formats to strengthening existing Ippudo stores and narrowing the formats in which it opens stores,」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 5 Ippudo stores, 6 RAMEN EXPRESS stores and 4 stores under other formats or brands, adding 15 stores in total. After closing 4 bakery-format stores and 1 store under another format, the business had 144 stores as of the end of the third quarter, an increase of 10.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 3 Ippudo stores, 5 RAMEN EXPRESS stores and 2 stores under other formats or brands, adding 10 stores in total. After closing 4 bakery-format stores, the business had 140 stores as of the end of the second quarter, an increase of 6.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 4 RAMEN EXPRESS stores, 1 PANDA EXPRESS store and 1 store under another format or brand, adding 6 stores in total. After closing 4 bakery-format stores, the business had 136 stores as of the end of the first quarter, an increase of 2.」

「The company opened 2 Ippudo stores, 7 RAMEN EXPRESS stores and 2 stores under other brands, adding 11 stores in total. This was partly offset by the closure of 1 Ippudo store and 1 soba store and the transfer of 2 stores, reducing the total by 4. As a result, the domestic store operations business had 132 stores as of the end of the third quarter, an increase of 7.」

「The company opened 1 Ippudo store, 5 RAMEN EXPRESS stores and 1 store under another brand, adding 7 stores in total. This was partly offset by the closure of 1 Ippudo store and 1 soba store and the transfer of 2 stores, reducing the total by 4. As a result, the domestic store operations business had 128 stores as of the end of the second quarter, an increase of 3.」

「In the domestic store operations business, the company opened 1 Ippudo store and 4 RAMEN EXPRESS stores. As of the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year, the business had 130 stores, an increase of 5. The performance of the Hakata udon stores being developed as part of its format development initiatives, which had 8 stores as of the end of the first quarter, also showed signs of improvement.」

「1. Strengthening the domestic business base and establishing new brands」