Exhibiting at HRC London 2025 (Hotel, Restaurant, Catering)

Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Tokyo, Pepper Food Service Co., Ltd. is a leading Japanese restaurant operator and foodservice brand owner. Known for its innovative quick-service restaurant concepts, the company has expanded globally with a diverse portfolio that blends authentic Japanese cuisine with fast, casual dining experiences. Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Pepper Food Service continues to push culinary boundaries with its signature brand, Pepper Lunch, and other successful ventures.

Core Business

Pepper Food Service operates a mix of directly managed and franchised restaurants in Japan and overseas. Its primary business model involves the creation and scaling of food brands across QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) and casual dining formats. In addition, the company engages in the retail distribution of ready-to-cook meal kits, sauces, and frozen food products under its popular restaurant brand names.

Product and Service Offerings

The company's operations are categorized into restaurant services and retail food products, catering to dine-in consumers and at-home culinary enthusiasts.

• Restaurant Brands:

  • Pepper Lunch – DIY Teppan hotplate steak meals
  • Ikinari! Steak – High-speed, affordable steakhouse concept
  • Sumiyaki Steak Kuni – Charcoal grilled steak dining
  • Kodawari Tonkatsu – Specialty pork cutlet concept
  • Gyutan Sendai Natori – Ox tongue cuisine
  • Katsukitei – Traditional tonkatsu restaurants

• Retail Products:

  • Ikinari! Garlic Rice (Frozen)
  • Frozen Hamburg Steak
  • Ikinari! Steak Sauce and Dressings
  • DIY Pepper Lunch Sets for home cooking
  • Tonkatsu and Curry Sauces

These products are distributed through online channels and select Japanese grocery chains.

Specialisation and Core USP

Pepper Food Service is best known for its self-cooking teppan dining model, allowing customers to cook their own meals on sizzling iron plates at their tables—a concept that set Pepper Lunch apart as a pioneer in experiential dining.

Other USPs include:

• Speed and efficiency in food service (average service time: 3–5 minutes per dish)
• Open kitchen formats promoting transparency
• Global franchising support, training, and logistics network
• Strong R&D capabilities for developing sauces and ready-to-eat meals

Financials

As a publicly traded company (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 3053.T), Pepper Food Service reports transparent financials:

• FY2023 Revenue: ¥20.3 billion (~USD 135 million)
• Net Profit: ¥620 million (~USD 4.1 million)
• Global Outlet Count: Over 500+ locations across 15+ countries
• Major revenue contributors: Pepper Lunch (60%), Ikinari! Steak (30%)

Shipment Records

The company has expanded its international food product business through direct exports and franchisee supply chains:

• Exported retail packs to Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Australia
• Frozen product shipments recorded in ImportYeti and trade data platforms
• Export portfolio includes: sauces, garlic rice kits, hamburg steaks, and curry bases

Target Market

Pepper Food Service targets a wide demographic:

• Young professionals and students seeking affordable steak dining
• Franchise investors in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and North America
• Retail consumers shopping for Japanese ready-to-cook or frozen meals
• Urban and high-footfall areas for outlet placements (malls, stations, airports)

Capabilities

• Proprietary teppan equipment design and manufacturing
• Franchise support: site selection, interior design, chef training
• R&D centre for new product innovation in Tokyo
• E-commerce capabilities via Pepper Lunch and Ikinari! Steak branded sites
• B2B and B2C logistics across Japan and Asia

Certifications and Compliance

All manufacturing and retail food operations adhere to Japanese food safety regulations, with:

• HACCP-compliant central kitchens
• Halal-compliant SKUs in select countries
• Regular audits and quality inspections

Customer Testimonials

“Pepper Lunch provides a fun, unique, and delicious dining experience. You feel like a chef at your table!”
— Customer Review, Singapore Franchise

“Their frozen garlic rice and steak sauces are as good as dining in. We keep them stocked in our freezer.”
— Home Cook, Tokyo Retail Buyer

Major Achievements

• Successfully franchised Pepper Lunch to over 15 international markets
• Developed in-house teppan grill technology for fast service dining
• Ranked among Top 10 Fast-Casual Brands in Asia by QSR Magazine
• Secured USD 50M+ franchise investment agreements globally (2017–2023)
• Diversified into food retail and frozen goods during COVID-19 recovery

Pepper Food Service Co., Ltd. exemplifies Japan's spirit of culinary innovation, blending traditional flavors with modern service models and delivering memorable dining experiences at scale.