TORRANCE, Calif. — Yoshinoya, one of Japan's largest restaurant companies with more than 1,300 locations worldwide, has announced two new appointments as part of a plan to grow its U. S. franchise operations.
Leading the brand expansion, Yoshinoya has appointed Oliver Cortes to president and CEO of Yoshinoya Franchise of North America Inc.
Cortes has been a key contributor to the management team holding various positions since 1981. Prior to his current position, Cortes held the title of senior vice president of Yoshinoya America Inc. in which his duties included overseeing construction, merchandising, planning and marketing. Yoshinoya has 86 U.S.-based locations.
As part of the national franchise-expansion effort, two new development agreements have been signed that will place new Yoshinoya restaurants in Arizona and Nevada. These new locations will open within the next year.
The Yoshinoya national growth initiative will include offering both single franchise and territory agreements to interested investors. The company also announced the addition of Scot Hobert as vice president of franchise development and sales.
Hobert joins Yoshinoya from one of the the largest Subway restaurant area developers where he
served in various capacities since 1994 including field consultant, director of franchise sales, director of marketing and franchisee ombudsman. He also served as the liaison between the Subway corporate legal department and the franchise community.
Yoshinoya is located throughout Japan, Mainland China, Shanghai, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia and the United States. Its menu is based on fresh ingredients featured in a variety of rice bowls, including its signature Beef Bowl.
