Criticism that Sukesan Udon's taste has changed has spread on social media following the acquisition. The article examines the circumstances behind the change in president and the dilemma over the brand's taste.
Personnel changes at Sukesan Udon have begun to take shape. Sato (佐藤) left the company at the end of March this year, and Sakita Haruyoshi (崎田晴義) became president. It was then announced that on 1 April, Sakita (崎田) would become chair without representative authority as president, while Ito Hideki (伊藤英記) would become the new president at the same time. The changes have attracted attention as a major personnel overhaul against the backdrop of the acquisition.
Regarding the relationship between the acquisition and the personnel changes, some media outlets linked the two to criticism on social media, but the article points out that the evidence is weak. The circumstances surrounding Sakita's (崎田) move to the chairmanship and Ito's (伊藤) move to the top executive role are described as interesting. Ito (伊藤) joined Sukesan Udon in 2019, before the acquisition, and is said to have served as a deputy store manager at a location in Kitakyushu.
As a counterpoint to outside criticism, a food-service expert says that the calls that “the taste has changed” are the views of regular customers who love the restaurant's food and are likely to attract attention. The expert also says that reactions on social media can help draw interest. The reporter in charge says, “There must also be people who genuinely feel that the taste has changed.”
The article organises the debate over the change in taste from the perspectives of the change in president and corporate strategy. Readers should watch future developments, the effectiveness of the new management structure and the prospects for restoring Sukesan Udon's reputation as a regional soul food.