Major Japanese dining group acquires leading Australian sushi chain in multi-million dollar deal

One of Japan's premier restaurant operators has acquired a prominent Australian sushi franchise in a transaction valued at over $160 million, marking a significant consolidation in the fast-casual dining sector.

Genki Global Dining Concepts, a major player in the global Japanese fast food market, has completed the purchase of Sushi Sushi, an Australian chain operating 190 locations nationwide. The acquisition represents one of the largest hospitality deals in the Australian market this year.

The Melbourne-born brand launched nearly 30 years ago in Box Hill, pioneering the grab-and-go sushi format that has become ubiquitous in Australian workplace dining culture. The chain's signature hand rolls drove rapid expansion, establishing a significant footprint primarily within shopping centre food courts, supplemented by standalone locations featuring traditional sushi train service.

According to CEO Stephen Anders, the new ownership structure will facilitate operational enhancements and menu innovation. "Over the medium to longer term, Genki is a multi-market player and they've been in the industry for 50 years, so there's a lot of category capability there," he told Yahoo. "So there'll be opportunities to partner with them around technology, particularly sushi train technology … in the months ahead."

The partnership is expected to introduce advanced dining technologies, including automated plate return systems integrated into customer tables. "Also, from a product innovation perspective, it's really exciting. We've got a global supply chain, they've got a global supply chain," Mr Anders added. "They've got a significant recipe book, and so that's really exciting to be able to innovate on the product front with them."

The acquisition follows Odyssey Private Equity's 2019 purchase of the brand for approximately $50 million. Financial disclosures indicate Sushi Sushi and sister brand Sushi Musa recorded combined revenues of $88.7 million with earnings of $1.5 million in the fiscal year ending June 30.

The transaction supports aggressive expansion plans, with management targeting growth to 450 locations domestically—more than doubling the current store count. International development is also advancing, with the chain already operating in New Zealand and planning 40 locations across Saudi Arabia over the next decade.

Genki CEO Mitsuzo Fujio emphasized the strategic rationale for the acquisition: "Sushi Sushi is an iconic Australian brand with a powerful consumer proposition, strong franchise performance and significant runway for expansion, both in Australia and internationally."

Industry analysis shows Sushi Sushi and competitor Sushi Hub collectively capture 40 percent of Australia's takeaway sushi market, though the combined chains represent only 15 percent of total outlets. The Australian sushi sector is approaching $1 billion in total value, according to market estimates.

Jonathan Jackson, 17^th February 206