IRO Sushi has announced a major update to its franchise model strategy as it targets 100 restaurants nationwide by 2030.
The fast-growing sushi brand has partnered with a leading high street bank to provide first-time franchisees with access to highly competitive funding. The initiative is designed to make business ownership more accessible, enabling new partners to open joint-venture restaurants with reduced financial barriers.
The franchise model will help new partners navigate the complexities of starting a business in the competitive food industry.
Through its joint venture programme, IRO Sushi offers comprehensive operational support and a dedicated training system to help franchisees develop the skills required to run and scale successful restaurant businesses based on the franchise model. The model is aimed primarily at entrepreneurs entering franchising for the first time.
A standout feature of the programme is its long-term ownership pathway. Once franchise partners have generated sufficient capital, IRO Sushi will sell its stake in the business at the original valuation, rather than the current market value. This approach allows franchisees to move into full ownership on highly favourable terms.
The refreshed strategy follows a successful pilot launched in 2023 with a single franchise partner, which expanded to five IRO Sushi locations across the UK. The trial demonstrated strong performance and validated the brand’s collaborative growth model.
IRO Sushi currently operates more than 30 restaurants across the country and believes the enhanced franchise framework will be central to achieving its ambitious expansion plans.
