Yo! Sushi Buys London-Based Taiko

A year after Yo! Sushi bought the 600-branch North American restaurant chain Bento Sushi, it has acquired London-based Taiko Foods, which makes sushi for supermarkets including Waitrose. For the time being, Yo! Sushi restaurants, Bento, and Taiko will all continue to operate as separate companies.

Richard Hodgson, who was appointed CEO of Yo! Sushi at the end of last year, calls the acquisition another step in the company’s development, and further expands its global multi-format and multi-brand sushi business with extensive manufacturing operations in both the UK and North America. The move comes as the UK's food-to-go market accelerates, even as casual dining operators struggle. The sector is expected to grow 2.8% in 2018, according to the MCA Food-to-go Market Report.