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Franchise

open a YO! Sushi franchise

Join us in creating the biggest and best sushi franchise in the UK.

become a YO! partner

an unbeatable food franchise opportunity to be part of something truly special.

We are looking for enthusiastic, entrepreneurial sushi lovers to join us as we embark on making Japanese cuisine tasty, affordable and available to all.

We're all about fresh, flavoursome, authentic Japanese food. Sushi is what we're known for. But we also have a menu full of mouth-watering street food available - from traditional classics to innovative fusion dishes. All packed with rich, aromatic flavours and all-natural ingredients.

We burst onto the restaurant scene in 1997, when we shook up London's Soho and showed the UK a new way of eating. Fast forward to today and we have over 50 restaurants and over 370 kiosks in Tesco supermarkets.

Our vision is to be the #1 Japanese food business for revenue growth, brand recognition, stakeholder value and sustainability.

YO! sushi franchise partner at a kiosk

a ready-made sushi franchise

You might not have heard, but YO! is the UK’s largest sushi franchise operator, with thousands of partners serving consumers around the globe. Over the past thirty years we've put a lot of work into building our brand and developing tried and tested systems to enable our franchisees achieve their dreams.  

As part of the Wonderfield Group, one of the largest global sushi producers, we have amazing relationships with Tesco. That means you can forget about landlord agreements and focus on the thousands of people that walk past one of our kiosks every week. 

what’s in it for you?

Running your own business takes time, hard-work, dedication, and passion, but it comes with huge benefits.  We’re committed to building the best franchise to own in the UK, so we’ll be there every step of the way providing training, support, and assistance.

  • all the equipment, uniforms and menus

    Your franchise fee includes everything you need to get started, from rice cookers and sushi knives to digital marketing screens.

  • be your own boss

    Build something to be proud of and enjoy the freedom and flexibility that comes with owning your own business.

  • dedicated regional manager

    Feel supported with a dedicated point of contact at YO! to provide advice and guidance.

  • detailed training programme

    Train at the dedicated Wonderfield training academy and receive practical training in a kiosk.

  • marketing & campaigns support

    Our team are here to help you grow your business and keep attracting new customers through seasonal marketing campaigns.

  • significant earnings potential 

    With our brand combined with locations throughout UK supermarkets, the possibilities are endless.

YO! sushi franchise partner placing sushi in a bag

are you ready for YO!?

Our existing franchisees come from a huge range of backgrounds. Opening a sushi franchise is all about strong relationships, amazing products, and great results.  

If you're passionate about Japanese food, our brand, and delivering excellent customer service to both sushi newbies and foodies, we want to hear from you.  

Whether you’ve got experience in the industry or you’re a newcomer with passion, our team will support you in every key aspect of running your kiosk.

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YO! sushi franchise partners at a kiosk
YO! sushi platter at a kiosk

what makes YO! the best franchise in the UK?

“When the opportunity to work at YO! came up, I was ready for a change, something completely new. I started as a supervisor, and within a year I was managing three kiosks. I’d never rolled sushi before, but thanks to the amazing training and support, I quickly found my feet. Their guidance gave me the confidence and skills I needed to succeed. So, when the chance came to run my own franchise, I didn’t hesitate, and I’ve never looked back. It’s genuinely the best decision I’ve ever made. The journey’s been incredible, and I’m really proud of how far I’ve come.”

Tina McKinstry

Tina McKinstry
Franchise Partner, YO! Wigan

franchise faqs

In simple terms, a franchise is a partnership between two parties: the franchisor and the franchisee. The franchisor (YO!) is the company owner, and the franchisee buys the right to operate the business in an agreed location using the existing company brand and products. The franchisee (you) is investing into an already established brand and will have the ongoing support of the company.

Prospective franchisees must be able to evidence that: 

  • You have the funds necessary to invest in this opportunity and be willing to commit to a long-term partnership.  

  • You have managerial experience, or a track record of leading a team. 

  • You understand workplace health and safety, P&L, business planning, forecasting, recruitment, and team development. 

  • You’re self-motivated and can motivate others to maintain the high standards of the brand. 

  • You’re a great communicator who can build a strong rapport with your customers and our support teams.  

  • You’re willing to take a hands-on role in your new business. 

  • You can always find a solution and you understand or are willing to learn how to maximise footfall, manage peak trade, and plan efficient rotas.  

  • You’re willing to follow YO!’s tried and tested systems and processes developed through over 25 years of experience. 

  • You’re always learning and taking on new skills, as well as constantly striving for bigger and better things.  

  • You’re ready to be your own boss and hit the ground running from day one.  

  •  You share our core principles. Own it. Care for it. Make it exceptional and Win together. 

Additional information about requirements can be found in our franchise prospectus. 

Complete the contact form above and we’ll be in touch with all our franchise opportunities.  

Once you’ve signed a franchise agreement, you’ll receive two weeks full training at our Wonderfield Training Academy, followed by two weeks of hands-on training in a live kiosk. You’ll then be ready to open your own YO! Sushi kiosk. 

Our YO! Sushi franchise package has a three-year operation term. You'll then have the option to renew for a further three-year period.  

While the specifics of your investment will depend on location size, potential franchisees will need to evidence they have the finances available to pay the one-time franchise fee as any start up costs. This can be financed by the franchisee directly or through a nominated bank.  

Franchisees pay an ongoing royalty fee as percentage of sales. The royalty fees allow us to deliver our exceptional support and training programs as well as providing ongoing brand, marketing, and operational assistance.

More information about costs can be found in our franchise prospectus. 

In addition to our detailed training programme, you’ll be assigned a dedicated Regional Manager who will be your day-to-day contact. You'll also receive extensive support from our experienced team on:

  • Kiosk location selection support

  • Marketing and campaigns support from our marketing specialists

  • Regular new product development to stay relevant and generate additional sales

  • Supplier infrastructure and pricing support

  • Dedicated franchise support manager for onboarding and documentation set up

  • Dedicated franchise area manager for advice and guidance on operational issues

Our franchise opportunity allows you to own and operate your very own sushi kiosk business under the YO! brand in Tesco supermarkets. 

This is a turn-key business set up with everything you need to produce hand rolled sushi and our food to go bowls. Our kiosk kitchens have top of the range equipment including, fridges, rice cookers, chefs' knives and more. 

Additional benefits include: 

  • You'll be part of the UK's largest sushi franchise system. There are approximately 500 YO! and Panku Street food kiosks in Tesco and Asda supermarkets across mainland UK 

  • Benefit from a captive customer base in high-traffic locations. Our typical supermarket locations see an average of 4,000 customers daily 

  • No external landlord agreements to negotiate 

  • Support from the UK's largest sushi operator with thousands of successful partners globally 

  • Established relationships with industry-leading suppliers 

  • Regular new product development to enhance offerings and generate additional sales 

  • Room to grow your kiosk portfolio after 12 months of successfully running your first location 

  • Significant earnings potential as you run a successful business