Fast forward to 2020 and the company shows no sign of slowing down. The group currently operates 59 restaurants around the island under various self-developed and franchised brands. Apart from Ajisen Ramen (founded in Kumamoto, Japan in 1968), Japan Foods currently manages a host of franchises like noodle and dumpling restaurant Afuri (located at the newly revamped Funan Mall), udon restaurant Kazokutei at Bugis Junction and gyoza specialty joint Osaka Ohsho, which is located at various malls around the island.
SINGAPORE (Jan 31): For the past 23 years, Japan Foods Holding has been bringing flavours of Japan to Singapore. It all started when founder, executive chairman and chief operating officer Takahashi Kenichi was posted here as an engineer for Pioneer Asia Group in 1994 but realised he could not find a decent bowl of ramen anywhere in the city.
Determined to bring a taste of home to Singapore, the Kanagawa prefecture native left his job and started Japan Foods. The company’s first food and beverage brand, via a franchising arrangement, Ajisen Ramen, was born in 1997. It was also the first ramen chain to open here.
