Umenohana Group

Basic Information

Stock Code
7604
Industry
Retail
Category Detail
Restaurants
Prefecture
Fukuoka Prefecture
Establishment Year
January 1990
Listing Year
April 1999
Official Website
https://www.umenohana.co.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
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Overview

Umenohana Group is a major Japanese and Chinese restaurant chain established in 1990, with yuba and tofu dishes as its core offerings expanded nationwide, and it is a diversified company also engaged in food takeout and spa businesses.

Current Situation

Umenohana Group recorded consolidated sales of 29.8 billion yen and net profit exceeding 1 billion yen for the fiscal year ending April 2024, maintaining a solid financial foundation. Its core food service business centers on the 'Umenohana' yuba and tofu restaurant chain, with locations from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu in the south, conducting regionally rooted operations. Takeout and gift mail-order businesses are supporting growth. Through organizational restructuring and subsidiary establishments, it manages the effects of new store openings while pursuing business expansion via M&A and overseas ventures in Thailand and the US. In recent years, it changed its name to 'Umenohana Group' to strengthen its group management structure, continuing service development focused on sustainable management and customer satisfaction. Looking ahead, it plans to expand store presence across all regions nationwide, promote its spa business, and tap into inbound tourism demand.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Originated from founder Shigeharu Umenoya opening a crab restaurant at age 25.
  • Multiple stores feature works by doll artist Yuri Kodomo.
  • First entered Hokkaido in 2004, with presence in all regions except Okinawa.
  • Operates spa business alongside food service, characteristic of composite management.
  • Awarded Prime Minister Prize at ACC CM Festival.
  • Entered capital and business alliance with H2O Retailing in 2012.
  • Established multiple subsidiaries to clarify new store effects.
  • Diversified with takeout and mail-order sales business.
  • Adopted CEO and COO system under representative director for division of management roles.
  • Deploys diverse brands from Japanese to Chinese cuisine nationwide.
  • Acquired Furuchian as subsidiary to enter sushi takeout market.
  • Gained long-term customer support through locally integrated store operations.
  • Paid-in capital exceeds 5 billion yen, with stable financial structure as of April 2019.
  • Sales for FYE April 2024 reached approximately 29.8 billion yen on consolidated basis.
  • Number of employees: 681 consolidated, 151 standalone, with sufficient management scale.

Hidden Connections

  • Advancing joint business development through capital and business alliance with H2O Retailing.
  • Acquired 'Sushi Han' business from SRS Holdings to expand brand deployment.
  • Entered capital and business alliance with Fujio Food Group headquarters to build cooperative framework.
  • Secured stable management foundation by acquiring shares from founding family and relatives of subsidiary Furuchian.
  • Actively implementing business efficiency through multiple liquidations and mergers.
  • Utilizing doll works by Yuri Kodomo in stores across locations to create cultural value.
  • Capital structure strongly reflects influence of founding family and H2O.
  • Entering food service industry in the US based on subsidiary UMENOHANA USA INC.

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Market expansion through nationwide store network growth
  • Mid- to long-term strengthening of group management structure
  • Enhancement of digital marketing and services
  • Advancement of menu development responding to health trends
  • Business diversification via M&A and business alliances
  • Brand recognition improvement and expansion in overseas markets
  • Growth in takeout and mail-order businesses
  • Increasing demand for experience-based services including spa business
  • Corporate value enhancement through sustainability-focused management
  • Realization of efficient store operations addressing labor shortages
  • Increased repeat customers through improved customer service quality
  • New customer acquisition through strengthened brand power

Strategic Goals

  • Achieve full format deployment in major cities nationwide
  • Establish sustained growth with sales exceeding 50 billion yen
  • Promote sustainable management reducing environmental impact
  • Complete digital transformation
  • Expand overseas business ratio to over 10%

Business Segments

Restaurant Operations

Overview
Operates own-brand restaurants nationwide, providing services tailored to local needs.
Competitiveness
Diverse business formats and regionally integrated store network
Customers
  • Individual customers
  • Corporate groups
  • Tourists
  • Banquet and dining guests
Products
  • Yuba and tofu dishes
  • Japanese and Chinese course cuisine
  • Banquet plans

Takeout and Prepared Foods Sales

Overview
Provides high-quality prepared foods and sushi through diverse channels such as department store basements and mail order.
Competitiveness
High quality control and abundant product development capabilities
Customers
  • Department store customers
  • General consumers
  • Local shopping streets
  • Delivery services
Products
  • Sushi prepared foods
  • Japanese-style prepared foods sets
  • Gift foods

Spa Business

Overview
Provides health and healing services through spa facility operations and planning.
Competitiveness
Authentic spa business leveraging Japanese culture
Customers
  • General users
  • Accommodation operators
  • Corporate welfare
  • Tourism-related businesses
Products
  • Hot spring bathing facility operations
  • Treatment services
  • Relaxation programs

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Nationwide store network
  • Specialization in yuba and tofu cuisine
  • Diverse business format development capabilities
  • Long-term customer support
  • Solid financial foundation
  • Aggressive M&A strategy
  • Regionally rooted service deployment
  • Diverse sales channels
  • Dual pillars of food service and retail
  • Overseas expansion track record
  • High brand recognition
  • Abundant menu development capabilities
  • Flexible organizational restructuring
  • Stable management by founding family
  • Composite operations with spa business

Competitive Advantages

  • Provision of high-value-added services specialized in yuba and tofu cuisine
  • Sales diversification utilizing takeout and gift mail order
  • High market coverage through nationwide expansion including Kanto
  • Flexible store operations responsive to regional needs
  • Implementation of new store effect management through long-term organizational restructuring and subsidiary utilization
  • Advancement of new market development and diversification strategy via overseas expansion
  • Stable operations backed by representative's extensive management experience
  • Brand strengthening through award-winning CMs and media exposure
  • Ability to cater to wide customer segments with multiple brands
  • Acquisition of health-conscious needs through spa business
  • Establishment of thorough customer service quality improvement training system
  • Smooth equipment investment post-IPO via stable funding
  • Efficient operations via central kitchen for food manufacturing and cooking
  • Innovative menu development based on traditional cuisine
  • Low-calorie ingredient usage corresponding to rising health consciousness

Threats

  • Intense competition in the food service industry
  • Risk of rising raw material prices
  • Concerns over service degradation due to labor shortages
  • Demand decline from changing consumer preferences
  • Risks from external environmental changes such as infectious disease outbreaks
  • Sales decline in local stores due to population decrease
  • Competitors' diversification strategies and price competition
  • Cost increase risks from strengthened regulations
  • Fluctuations in imported ingredient costs due to exchange rate changes
  • Reputation decline from delayed response to environmentally considerate management
  • Loss of customer acquisition opportunities from delayed digitalization
  • Brand share erosion by new entrants

Innovations

2024: Group management strengthening through name change

Overview
Changed trade name to Umenohana Group Co., Ltd. in May 2025 to reinforce holding company structure.
Impact
Contributes to strengthening management foundation and enhancing brand power

2023: Introduction of digital ordering system

Overview
Introduced digital ordering in all stores to enhance customer convenience.
Impact
Improved ordering efficiency and increased customer satisfaction

2022: Adoption of environmentally friendly packaging materials

Overview
Adopted low-environmental-impact materials for takeout product packaging to pursue sustainability.
Impact
Improved environmental ratings and strengthened brand image

2021: Launch of new format 'Wayakin'

Overview
Established new creative Japanese cuisine format to strengthen capture of younger customers.
Impact
Successfully expanded new customer base

2021: Expansion of overseas store development

Overview
Increased food service stores in Thailand and the US to expand overseas sales ratio.
Impact
Overseas business sales grew to about 5% of total

Sustainability

  • Promotion of food waste reduction programs aimed at lowering environmental impact
  • Promotion of local production for local consumption through collaboration with local communities
  • Switch to plastic-reduced packaging materials
  • Introduction of energy-saving equipment in stores
  • Implementation of sustainability education for employees