Industry Fast Food Products Fast food Founded 1979 Type of business Private | Founder Reverend Susumu Ikuta Website edojapan.com Headquarters Calgary | |
 | ||
Number of locations Over 105 (2014)
in Canada, United States (California and New Mexico) Key people Tom Donaldson (President & CEO) Profiles | ||
Edo Japan is a Canadian fast food chain specializing in Japanese traditional Teppanyaki style cooking. Its head offices are located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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History
Founded by Reverend Susumu Ikuta in 1979, Edo Japan was designed to bring fresh and healthy Japanese Teppanyaki-style cooking to suburban shopping centres and food courts across Canada. The first store opened in Calgary at Southcentre Mall.
Expansion and growth
Competing against predominantly burgers, subs, pizza and fried chicken establishments, the teppanyaki-style concept grew in popularity with its customers as it offered an alternative to North American cuisine. In 1986, Ikuta switched from a "mom and pop" operation to offering franchises of his company.
In 1998, he felt he needed to find someone to run his business. In 1999, sales were $10 million; at the close of last year, they had topped $24.5 million. That year, Tom Donaldson was hired to run the company. In 2003, Ikuta wanting to retire agreed to sell the company to Donaldson.
With locations in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan, the company started targeting the United States and Eastern Canadian markets. Not wanting to be limited to shopping centers, the company slowly introduced it street-front restaurants.