About 62% of Americans say they enjoy sushi. While sushi is one of the oldest traditional Asian foods, its popularity in the U.S. has only existed for about 50 years so opportunities for growth remain. Sushi is popular among consumers interested in the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, an ingredient abundant in fish and regarded as a preventative against heart disease. Sushi has become so popular that it is now synonymous with meeting up with friends for a beer or pizza.
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The main hurdle with selling sushi to a general audience is this: they need to try it first. While plenty of Americans have eaten sushi, there is still a large percentage of the population that has not, and you may need to tap into that portion of the public if you are going to grow a successful business. This is particularly true in areas where sushi restaurants are not ordinary, as most people don’t prepare this traditional food at home.
Opportunities for a Taste
When someone isn’t sure they will like a particular food, they are unlikely to pay for it. That’s where free samples come into play. If you can find opportunities to put free samples into the hands of your potential customers, that’s a great chance to win new fans. So, for example, if you set up your location in a mall food court or a shopping center where people are likely to walk by, you can easily give out samples of fresh sushi made at your restaurant. This way, you can meet new people, improve your name recognition, and give potential customers their first taste of sushi.
Bring Down the Barriers
It’s also important to make your sushi as approachable as possible for people who are new to the genre. If they walk into your store and find a confusing menu with words they don’t understand, they’ll likely turn around and leave again. Make your menu as “beginner friendly” as possible to make sure people feel comfortable placing an order. Also, train staff to be welcoming and open to answering any questions.
Sushi is served in kiosks, sushi bars, and full-service restaurants, allowing for a range of investment levels. Owning a sushi franchise reduces the risk of investing in a business that prepares this specialty food. Franchise training ensures that you and your staff are prepared to safely store, handle, and serve the raw ingredients used to prepare sushi so you can deliver customer-pleasing combinations. Explore our sushi franchises to find out more.
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