First Take

Sushi

The sushi category is a destination for bold flavors and daring ingredient fusions. This year consumers can look forward to more instances where they are treated to traditional cuisine and have opportunities to experiment with fusion sushi where toppings and sauces from different entrees and regions cross over into a complementary burst of flavors.

“FujiSan is poised for growth in 2023,” said Tracey Schram, VP of Sales and Marketing for FujiSan Franchising Corporation. “Our focus is only using 100 percent certified sustainable seafood, ingredients with no artificial dyes or colors and handcrafting the highest quality product available in the retail sushi market.”

“Our primary focus going into 2023 will continue to be healthy, sustainable growth and the profitability of our franchisees,” said Dan Beem, CEO of Hissho Sushi. “A chance to double down and stay focused on our core values: providing the highest quality sushi to our retail partners and customers; continuing our commitment to 100 percent responsibly sourced seafood; and operational excellence through expert sushi chefs and strict quality standards.”

"We are very excited for the new year ahead at Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise Corp. (AFC)," said Brand Development Manager Deborah Bush. "With more than 35 years as industry leaders, we have an opportunity to take a minute to remember our roots and tell the AFC story. 2023 will bring a fresh opportunity for us to introduce new services and trendsetting products; expanding our Hybrid Sushi® line with new unique flavor profiles and textures. Furthermore, we will focus on expanding our Central Kitchen model, which is an exciting opportunity to bring made fresh daily sushi to locations who lack the space for an on-premise sushi counter. This gives us the ability to deliver a high-quality, healthier alternative for grab and go food at an affordable price to people we currently are unable to serve. Through targeted marketing programs and improvements to our digital presence, we will continue to build customer loyalty. With improved communications, both in-store and digitally, we will deepen our relationships with our customers, and grocery partners. By capitalizing on the successes of the previous few years while making continuous improvements, we will actively drive sales."

FujiSan Franchising has targeted fusion sushi as an opportunity to entice new consumers to the category and maintain existing consumers’ attention who know they like sushi but are interested in developing a taste for complementary ingredient pairings and a fresh take on traditional cuisine. “Fusion sushi continues to trend strongly—combining flavors, toppings and sauces from different regions and countries around the world enables us to keep our menu fresh and exciting,” Schram said.

Hissho Sushi is setting its sights on three pivotal sections of the sushi category in 2023: heat and serve appetizers and entrees, reformatting classic consumer favorites into bowls and aligning with companies in the consumer packaged goods sector that will allow for Hissho Sushi to further its goals. On the heat and serve appetizers and entrees front, Hissho Sushi joined forces with Wow Bao. The appetizers and entrees are currently available at select retailers “with the goal of full availability by the end of 2023,” Beem said. While assortment unsurprisingly varies based on the retailer, options include: bao, eggrolls, rangoons, potstickers and rice bowls. “Through a partnership with Wow Bao, we’re expanding our assortment to include heat and serve appetizers and entrees in response to customer demand,” he said.

Later this year, Hissho Sushi plans to reconfigure its rolls into options for a bowl format. “In Q2, we are planning to launch a new concept that takes some of our classic rolls and reimagines them in a bowl format,” Beem said. “Sushi lovers can expect their favorite flavors, with the addition of some exciting new elements.”

And lastly, Hissho Sushi expects to launch innovation with support from partners at the forefront of the CPG space. “We’ve previously partnered with the likes of Frito Lay (Cheetos

Flamin’ Hot Sushi Roll), McCormick (Frank’s RedHot Crunchy Buffalo Chicken Roll), and Hatch Chile Co. (Crunchy Hatch Chile Chicken Roll),” Beem said. “While we aren’t ready to share our CPG partnership for 2023 just yet, we are planning to continue in this space to bring unique, innovative flavors to our customers this year.”

“There are several areas within the category that we plan to tackle as we move into 2023,” Bush with AFC said. “First, we will benefit from the improvements made to our supply chain to further reduce costs, mitigate delays and disruptions, and improve the global sourcing of raw materials that meet AFC’s high quality standards. We are also looking to grow our franchise network and corporate labor force in the new year. AFC’s operations team will work towards improving the franchise system, focusing on training, compliance, and the execution of our industry-setting standards and best practices. Our dedication to operation excellence will drive our teams’ commitment to improved customer relations and product quality, resulting ultimately in an increase of sales.”

A conversation Hissho Sushi would like to spark centers around “responsibly sourced seafood,” Beem said. “Hissho Sushi is leading the industry in responsible sourcing practices and is committed to protecting our ocean ecosystems for future generations. We believe in 100 percent responsibly sourced seafood; seafood that is traceable from farm to fishery; maintaining healthy fish populations and ethical supply chain management.”

“We have several exciting new initiatives we will be developing and executing into the market that will create excitement in the industry,” Bush said. “We would like for our business partners to keep an eye on us as we tell the AFC story and follow us as we lead the way in setting new industry standards. We will continue to use consumer research and data to guide strategic decisions and product innovation. Our innovation pipeline will bring exciting new launches throughout the year, targeting loyal customers and reaching new ones.”