Are you looking for something new, tired of putting in all your hard work for someone else, or maybe you dream of being your own boss, owning your own food business? 

If the answer is yes, then keep reading because this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

At YO! we're all about bringing bold, vibrant moments to life.

We're here to spark curiosity and introduce people to the excitement of Japanese and Asian food culture—mixing tradition with a modern twist to serve up dishes that are full of flavour and fun. From restaurants and kiosks to grocery and digital, we create spaces where people come together to enjoy food that’s anything but ordinary.

Back in 2018, we teamed up with Tesco to open our very first YO! kiosk in Hatfield. Fast forward to today, and we’ve grown to over 500 kiosks across the UK. In 2023, we took things up a notch—offering passionate food lovers the chance to run their own YO! & PANKU kiosk by becoming a franchise partner.

Now, we’re on the lookout for driven, hands-on, sushi-obsessed partners to join us as we roll out into even more Tesco & ASDA stores. Sound like you? Let’s make it happen.

About the opportunity

Our franchise opportunity gives you the chance to run your own YO! kiosk inside Tesco (or Panku kiosk inside Asda) supermarkets and that comes with:

• Built-in customer base – thanks to the daily footfall in the supermarket locations.
• Potential to grow sales and profits.
• Turn-key setup with all Equipment, Training, Supply Chain, Marketing and company expert support is at your fingertips to set you up for success.

The Business Model

Investment required will be subject to kiosk location and quantity of locations agreed and allocated: 

• 3-year franchise agreement with the option to renew for a further 3-year period if both parties agree.
• Full training in our YO! training academy and in a live operational kiosk, location and training period to be confirmed - subject to your experience.
• Operations Manual and training tools to help you operate a successful business.
• Brand marketing campaigns throughout the year.
• Regular new menu offering development to enhance offering and generate additional sales.
• Supplier infrastructure already set up and pricing support from YO!
• Dedicated franchise support manager for onboarding, documentation set up advice and ongoing guidance on operational standards.

What being a YO! franchisee looks like

This is a hands-on role made for food lovers who aren’t afraid to get stuck in. You’ll be at the heart of the action, making sushi fresh each day and running your business with energy and pride.

Here’s some of what you’ll be doing:

• Create a variety of sushi rolls, nigiri, and Asian-inspired ready meals with precision and creativity
• Offering exceptional customer service and interaction with customers.
• Ensure proper food handling, storage, and sanitation practices are followed at all times
• Maintain a clean and organised workspace
• Monitor, order and maintain adequate inventory levels of sushi ingredients and supplies
• Managing your own staff
• Handling your own business finances – from payroll to invoices
• Building great relationships – with supermarket teams, and our YO! crew
• Able to finically forecast your business and run a monthly P&L (Profit and Loss)

What’s in it for you

• Partner with an experienced franchisor, with thousands of partners around the globe already operating highly successful restaurants and kiosks under our multiple brands.
• Support of best-in-class operators
• Established relationship with industry leading suppliers & costs negotiated with our collective bargaining power
• Dedicated franchise area manager for advice and guidance on operational issues
• Detailed training programme – in our UK training academy and practical training in a kiosk
• Fully equipped modern sushi kiosk including top of the range fridges, rice cookers, dishwasher, tablet, printer for labels etc.
• Opportunity to drive and control your own profits
• Room to grow your kiosk’s portfolio after 12 months of successfully running your first kiosk

Some of the qualities you will need:

• To be ready to be your own boss and hit the ground running from day one
• Proven experience as a Sushi Chef or in a similar role preferable but not essential
• Strong understanding of food safety and hygiene regulations (desirable)
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a high level of attention to detail
• A passion for Sushi and Japanese food is essential
• Understanding of P&L and cost to operate
• People skills – customer experience, team management
• Food hygiene certification (desirable)
• Able to stand up for long periods of the day (8+hours)
• Fluency in English – read, write and speak

Interested and want to know more?

By clicking the link below, we can send you further information on this franchise opportunity and allow you to contact them direct with any questions.

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