Japanese Restaurant Chains Report Solid Earnings

Tokyo, Feb. 13 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese restaurant chains posted robust consolidated earnings in their financial reports released by Friday as their efforts to retain customers, such as introducing seasonal menu items amid inflation, paid off. Skylark Holdings Co.’s net profit in the year to December 2025 rose 19.9 pct from the preceding year to 16.7 billion yen, and its sales jumped 14.1 pct to 457.7 billion yen. The rosy results reflected contributions from udon noodle chain Sukesan Udon, which originated in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Skylark acquired the chain in October 2024. Zensho Holdings Co. logged record-high sales, operating profit and net profit for April-December 2025, at 936.6 billion yen, 60.9 billion yen and 35.5 billion yen, respectively, led by brisk business at conveyor-belt sushi chain Hama-Sushi, which expanded its lineup of side dishes such as desserts and noodles. For the same period, Colowide Co., which operates the Ootoya set meal restaurant chain, reported sales of 217.8 billion yen, up 8.7 pct year on year, and a net profit of 3.6 billion yen, up 61.9 pct, thanks to seasonal menu items and collaboration campaigns with popular anime shows. Looking ahead, there are concerns that a possible two-year consumption tax exemption for food could negatively impact the restaurant sector as the elimination of the tax on take-out meals and prepared foods could lead to fewer people eating out. The government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said that it will accelerate talks on reducing the tax rate to zero for food. “There will be at least some impact,” Skylark Holdings President Minoru Kanaya said. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]