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Sushi Tei, a new-style conveyor-belt Sushi chain restaurant, has opened its sixth restaurant in Hong Kong. The Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr John Rutherford, paid a courtesy visit to the new outlet located in Tsuen Wan today (January 12).

Operated by the Singapore-based Japanese restaurant group, Daisho Group of Companies, Sushi Tei specialises in live sashimi and sushi and provides more than 100 choices of Japanese cooked food. After opening its first outlet located in Tsim Sha Tsui in 2000, Sushi Tei expanded its network here to Causeway Bay, Kornhill, Mong Kok and Yuen Long. With its Tsuen Wan outlet, Sushi Tei is closer to its target of operating a total of 10 restaurants and hence covering every major district in Hong Kong.

The Chairman of Daisho Group of Companies, Mr Noboru Takekura said, "We are pleased with the progress of our expansion plans in Hong Kong. In fact, we have already invested around HK$50 million here over the last four years and employed more than 200 local people for the six outlets. Not only is it a major source of investment returns, Hong Kong will also be used as a base for our rapid expansion in the Mainland market."

Mr Takekura owns and supplies more than 100 restaurants in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and China. Based on experience and sales volume, the Group is able to acquire quality raw materials at reasonable prices, which is the main selling point of its restaurants, including Sushi Tei. Hong Kong was chosen as a launching pad for realising his vision of expanding Japanese food culture worldwide.

Mr Takekura added, "Hong Kong has an unusually large market for our restaurant business, given its size and population. The city's central location and established industrial connections contribute to our strength in acquiring raw materials and controlling costs. Another important advantage is that our staff here can assist in our China expansion due to the geographical proximity and their good understanding of Chinese culture."

Mr Rutherford congratulated Sushi Tei on its expansion. He said, "We welcome the opening of the sixth Sushi Tei restaurant in Hong Kong. This represents a strong vote of confidence by the Daisho Group in our city. Hong Kong's international and multicultural lifestyle make the territory an attractive base for foreign restaurants to set up overseas operations and to then grow into other regional markets. Hong Kong welcomed well over 20 million visitors during 2004. This record number of tourists enhances our appeal to foreign restaurants, which can take advantage of the substantial domestic market as well as raising their profile among international travellers."

"We at Invest Hong Kong are happy to have helped restaurants from Asia, Europe and the US, as well as various Mainland cities, to establish a presence here. And I look forward to the addition of more Sushi Tei restaurants to enhance Hong Kong's role as a gourmet paradise," concluded Mr Rutherford.

Invest Hong Kong is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government department charged with encouraging and facilitating foreign investment into the city by providing all the support needed to establish and expand their operations here. For more information, please visit the website at www.investhk.gov.hk.

Ends/Wednesday, January 12, 2005

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