AFC is a sushi franchise brand founded in California, USA, in 1990. The brand has established a business model centered on sushi bars located within supermarkets. This article introduces the appeal of franchising with AFC, the key menu features available after joining, and the support provided.
Founded in 1990 in California, USA, AFC is one of the largest sushi franchise companies in North America (*). Since its founding, the company has taken on the challenge of offering “convenient sushi” that fits American food culture and has established an innovative model of sushi bars within supermarkets.
AFC has built long-standing partnerships with major supermarket chains in the United States, including Safeway, Albertsons, and Kroger. This has enabled AFC to roll out sushi counters in supermarkets nationwide, and it has grown into a major brand operating more than 4,000 sushi bars across the United States*.
By joining AFC (Advanced Fresh Concepts), franchisees can operate a business that offers freshly made sushi daily within supermarkets. AFC is one of the largest sushi franchises in North America, and a major attraction is its ability to deliver consistently high-quality products even without specialized experience as a sushi chef, owing to its unique supply chain and quality control systems.
AFC enables franchisees to serve sushi using toppings, rice, and seasonings carefully selected by headquarters, with standardized recipes and preparation processes. Due to the nature of the locations inside supermarkets, it is highly regarded in the United States as fresh sushi that can be easily purchased while shopping.
A significant strength of AFC is its diverse menu that goes beyond just sushi. AFC enables franchisees to offer products that cater to a variety of dietary habits and preferences, including popular sushi rolls, sashimi and sushi platters, poke, seafood salads, rolls, bento menus, and vegetarian options. Particularly, sushi rolls and poke are popular among health-conscious Americans and are categories that tend to attract repeat customers.
As illustrated above, it is essential to evaluate potential profitability based on cuisine characteristics and to ensure that operations are manageable.This website details the culinary features and support structures provided by each franchise brand. We also feature three carefully selected Japanese franchise brands based on regional suitability, so please be sure to review them as well.
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Three Selected
Japanese Food Franchises
| Melbourne | 3.7 out of 5.0 (as of November 21, 2025) |
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Based on customer reviews, AFC Sushi (AFC)’s supermarket-based sushi bars receive comments such as “high enough quality for sushi bought at a supermarket” and “a wide selection at reasonable prices,” and they have earned a certain level of recognition as a business model that can capture everyday prepared-food demand. In particular, a major strength is the strong customer flow in supermarkets, which makes it easier to convert supermarket foot traffic directly into sales.
Some customer reviews are shown below.
More and more grocery stores are offering fresh sushi. This AFC-operated outlet is one of the really good ones. Pricing is reasonable, and the quality and selection at this Market Street location are consistently very good. Never disappointed!!
The spicy tuna roll was very good, and the California roll was just as good.
| Franchise fee | $6,250 (full-time location) * For owners already operating as AFC franchisees, the initial franchise fee for opening a new full-time sushi counter at another supermarket is discounted on a prorated basis according to the remaining months of the current contract. 48–60 months: $6,250 36–47 months: $5,000 24–35 months: $3,750 12–23 Months: $2,500 Under 12 months: $1,250 |
|---|---|
| Initial investment | $41,104 to $138,804 (New full/part, when not purchasing an existing AFC-operated location) When purchasing an existing AFC-operated location: $42,104 to $238,804 |
| Royalty | 25% to 27% for the facility (supermarket) and 8% to 11% for AFC are deducted from gross sales. The remaining balance (after other deductions) will be remitted to the franchisee. The percentage may vary depending on the facility agreement, and AFC’s share typically does not exceed 11%. |
| Company Name | Sushi Sushi Ultimate Holdings Pty Ltd |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Restaurants (Including Company-Operated Locations) | Over 4,000 locations (number of locations in the United States and Asia not specified) Based on information from the official website as of November 21, 2025 |
| Address | 19700 Mariner Avenue Torrance, CA 90503 |
AFC’s unique business model of placing sushi bars inside supermarkets is appealing because it can deliver steady customer traffic. The initial investment is relatively low, and the structure makes it easier to build an operating model in a short period of time even for first-time restaurant operators.
In particular, AFC fits well with areas where health consciousness is strong and with urban and suburban areas that have many major supermarket chains, making it well suited to owners who want to stabilize earnings with a small start.
This media platform also features three recommended Japanese franchise brands, carefully selected based on regional suitability. Please be sure to review them as well.
Choose by area characteristics
Three Selected
Japanese Food Franchises
Even within Japanese food, the most receptive customer segments vary by genre. This section introduces recommended Japanese food genres based on the characteristics of the prospective area, along with Japanese franchise brands that already operate locations in the United States. The focus is on the food that can be offered by joining each franchise brand.
Gyu-Kaku delivers authenticity through certified Japanese A5 Wagyu. By also featuring USDA Prime beef, they offer steakhouse-quality dining at accessible prices.
From import to processing, Japanese staff strictly manage quality at every step, delivering the same authentic flavor found in premium yakiniku restaurants in Japan.
| Franchise fee | $50,000 |
|---|---|
| Initial investment | Approx. $1,215,444 to $2,606,540 |
| Royalty | 5% on annual sales up to approx. $1,500,000 4.5% on annual sales from approx. $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 4% on annual sales over approx. $2,000,000 |
| Number of restaurants | 825 worldwide (including 63 in the United States and 580 in Asia) |
| TripAdvisor rating | 4.3 out of 5.0 (442 reviews)*2 |
A wide range of toppings, from chicken katsu to omelets, ensures a fresh experience every visit, driving strong customer loyalty.
In addition to toppings, customers can adjust rice portions and spice levels, making the menu enjoyable for those who prefer milder flavors as well as those who want larger portions.
| Initial franchise fee | $40,000 |
|---|---|
| Initial investment | Not listed |
| Royalty | Not listed |
| Number of restaurants | 1,480 worldwide (including 11 in the United States and 1,467 in Asia) |
| TripAdvisor rating | 4.3 out of 5.0 (41 reviews)*3 |
As a popular chain with 861 locations in Japan*1, franchisees are able to consistently serve udon noodles with a firm, chewy texture, supported by the headquarters after opening.
The noodle-making, boiling, and cooling processes are demonstrated in an open kitchen, allowing customers to enjoy a freshly made, live dining experience.
| Franchise fee | $40,000 to $64,000 |
|---|---|
| Initial investment | $1,126,500 to $1,980,000 |
| Royalty | 5% of sales |
| Number of restaurants | 1,188 worldwide (including 23 in the United States and 1,155 in Asia) |
| TripAdvisor rating | 4.5 out of 5.0 (108 reviews)*4 |
*1 Source: Marugame Udon official website(https://jp.marugame.com/shop/), as of a December 2025 survey
*2 TripAdvisor: New York City location, as of October 28, 2025(https://www.tripadvisor.jp/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d3175593-Reviews-Gyu_Kaku_Japanese_BBQ-New_York_City_New_York.html)
*3 TripAdvisor: Irvine location, as of October 28, 2025(https://www.tripadvisor.jp/Restaurant_Review-g32530-d9750729-Reviews-Coco_Ichibanya-Irvine_California.html)
*4 TripAdvisor: Los Angeles location, as of October 28, 2025(https://www.tripadvisor.jp/Restaurant_Review-g32655-d4019757-Reviews-Marugame_Monzo-Los_Angeles_California.html)
* TripAdvisor ratings are based on the highest-rated U.S. location.
*The number of restaurants is based on the following references. As of a December 2025 survey
Gyu-Kaku official website(https://www.gyukaku.ne.jp/world.php)
CoCo Ichibanya official website(https://www.ichibanya.co.jp/comp/ir/finance/highlight/graph01.html)
Marugame Udon official website(https://jp.marugame.com/shop/)
