Australia’s largest quick-service sushi franchise, Sushi Sushi, has been bought by Japanese dining group Genki Global Dining Concepts in a deal valued at around 160 million Australian dollars. The agreement, finalised this month, marks one of the biggest franchise transactions in the Australian food and beverage sector in recent years.
Founded in Melbourne in 1998, Sushi Sushi has grown from a single outlet into a national franchise network with about 190 stores in shopping centres and urban hubs across Australia. The brand has become a staple of lunch-time culture and is known for its “grab and go” sushi hand rolls and fresh take-away options.
Sushi Sushi has a strong franchise model that has supported rapid expansion over the past decade. Around 60 per cent of its stores are operated by independent franchise partners, with the business regularly adding new locations and formats suited to busy transit points and food courts. The brand also expanded into New Zealand and has begun exploring outlets in the Middle East.
In the year ending June 2025, Sushi Sushi and its sister brand Sushi Musa together reported revenues of around 88.7 million dollars and a profit of 1.5 million dollars. The chain employs about 3000 people across its operations.
Genki Global Dining Concepts is a global sushi operator that traces its roots to a conveyor-belt sushi concept launched in 1968. It now runs more than 430 restaurants across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the America under brands such as Genki Sushi, Senryo and Uobei. The company says the acquisition of Sushi Sushi will accelerate its strategy to become one of the world’s largest Japanese-origin QSR sushi brands.
Sushi Sushi’s CEO Stephen Anders said the partnership will support innovation, technology upgrades and continued store growth in Australia and abroad. Genki’s leadership added that the deal reflects confidence in the strength of the franchise model and the long-term potential of sushi as a global quick-service category.
Industry analysts note that the Australian sushi market is approaching a total valuation of nearly 1 billion dollars, driven by growing consumer demand for convenient and healthier fast-food options. The acquisition is expected to bring new concepts, supply chain expertise and international best practices into the Australian franchise network.
