21st April 2017
YO! Sushi is to eliminate its conveyor belts from some of its restaurants, to broaden its appeal and highlight that it is no longer a sushi-only concept.
This summer the chain, which opened more than 20 years ago, will establish its first restaurant – at the Westfield shopping centre London – without the kaiten belt snaking around the premises. It also will remove the belt from its outlet at Manchester Piccadilly station.
The belt-free restaurants are expected to lead to less food wastage. Sites at airports and franchised sites are expected to retain their conveyor belts.
The company is extending its concessions after a trial within health and leisure business David Lloyd Clubs. The group, which is currently in the midst of a two-site concessions trial with Tesco, has launched units in five David Lloyd sites in the UK – Beckenham, Cheadle, Hatfield, Milton Keynes and Leeds.
The trial is part of the company’s focus on developing opportunities with retailers and health clubs. Late last year, YO! agreed a deal with Tesco to pilot YO! To Go counters at two UK stores – in Surrey and Bournemouth.
The company was created in 1997 in Soho by Simon Woodroffe.