Shoryu Ramen

About Shoryu Ramen

Shoryu Ramen specializes in Hakata tonkotsu ramen from the Hakata district of Fukuoka in southern Japan, a variety made with thick, rich pork soup and thin, straight ramen noodles. Both Shoryu’s owner, Tak Tokumine, and executive chef, Kanji Furukawa, are natives of Fukuoka. Having conceived London's Japanese food hall, Japan Centre, in 1976, Tokumine recognised, in 2012, a growing appetite for Japanese food, and saw an opening for a Hakata style ramen bar. It now has nine London restaurants, plus two Westfied outlets (White City and Stratford), plus locations in Oxford and Manchester. It also sells DIY Shoryu kits from its website. Having first started franchising in 2019, the company turned its focus to its delivery kitchens and DIY kits during the pandemic. But in October 2021, it announced plans to restart its franchise programme both in the UK and internationally. In March 2022, Shoryu Ramen lined up its first franchise opening, in Kensington, under a partnership with Ford Consultancy Group, which has been looking to open sites under franchise. It partnered with Ford, which provides specialist services to the hospitality sector, on the initiative and said it was ready to expand across London and further afield. The site is the first in partnership with Bowl Life, a subsidiary of Restaurants Inc - a development vehicle founded by sector investors Krishan Katyal and Dominic Ford to launch new restaurant businesses in London. Bowl Life plans to open at least three new Shoryu Ramen restaurants over the next few years and has ambitions to look beyond London. Shoryu Ramen originally sought to launch a franchising programme in 2019, but it was halted as the pandemic forced the group to focus on its own restaurants, delivery kitchens and online DIY ramen kits. In the summer of 2024, the group opened its 12th site, in London’s Westfield Stratford City’s World Food Court. At the same time, Shoryu said it plans to expand both owned and franchising sites in the coming years, bringing “high quality ramen, creating unique and engaging experiences to its growing customer base”.

Why franchise with Shoryu Ramen

• ✓Shoryu Ramen has ambitious plans for the future and is looking for franchise partners who love Japanese food and drinks to work with on its long-term vision. Franchisee benefits include unlimited growth opportunities, comprehensive training and pre-opening support for new sites, end-to-end support from highly experienced and knowledgeable operations teams, and an extensive marketing and promotional calendar. Furthermore, franchisees will get the security of an established brand with proven longevity and financial backing, an operating model for substantial financial success, and national and international franchising opportunities. Minimum investment is £450,000 and total investment £550,000, with a £25,000 franchise fee. Expected revenue after two years is £1.6m, with a 2% advertising fee and 6% royalty fee. Average floor space for a unit is 1,5000 square feet. A clear understanding of the Shoryu concept and brand is desired, along with experience of quality F&B operations (not necessarily Japanese), an understanding of Japanese food and culture, access to funding for the business venture and a desire to expand beyond one restaurant location. Shoryu Ramen founder Tak Tokumine said: “We have worked hard to establish Hakata Tonkotsu ramen in the UK since 2012. Now, together with Ford Consultancy, we are ready to bring Shoryu Ramen to a wider audience, working together with dedicated franchisees. I look forward to seeing new customers enjoy my hometown ramen across Britain and beyond in the future.”

Investment breakdown