YO! Sushi buys supermarket supplier Taiko Foods

By Sophie Witts

- Last updated on GMT

YO! Sushi buys supermarket supplier Taiko Foods
YO! Sushi has made a move in to the retail sector with the acquisition of Waitrose sushi supplier Taiko Foods for an undisclosed sum.

Founded in 1997, Taiko was the first manufacturer of sushi for UK supermarkets and supplies food-to-go such as dim sum and bento for several retailers.

YO! said the deal was part of its plan to build a “global multi-format and multi-brand sushi business”.

It follows the group’s £59.2m takeover​ of the 600-strong Canadian Bento Sushi chain in November last year, which created one of the world’s largest sushi companies outside Japan.

Taiko will continue to be run by its existing management team and keep its brand name going forward.

“This acquisition takes YO! into the next stage of its development, and further expands its global multi-format and multi brand sushi business with extensive manufacturing operations in both the UK and North America,” said YO! CEO Richard Hodgson.

“Taiko’s proposition and its management team’s strong track record make it the ideal partner for YO! as we look to further grow our business in the UK.”

YO! is owned by Mayfair Equity Partners, which acquired the controlling interest of the group for £81m in 2015.

Hodgson, a former Pizza Express boss, took over as CEO ​of the restaurant group last year. The company’s long-time boss Robin Rowland stepped down after 18 years, but retains a non-executive director role.

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