Q&A: Does Marugame Udon Franchise in the UK?

Noodle fans across the country have probably wondered whether they could open a Marugame Udon restaurant of their own. Turns out, your Japanese restaurant dreams could be about to come true. Let’s find out more about this exciting business.

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Despite its international fame, many diners in the UK may be unfamiliar with Marugame Udon. That is set to change very soon, with the restaurant chain looking to expand further into the British food market.

Since it was founded in 2000, the restaurant business has grown exponentially. With 801 stores in Japan and 1,012 worldwide, Marugame Udon is now delivering the unique flavours of Japan to a truly global audience. How do you become part of this ever-expanding brand? Let’s find out.

Does Marugame Udon franchise?

Yes, Marugame Udon does franchise in the UK. Currently, it’s preparing to launch its first London restaurant in 2021 and will be pursuing expansion across the UK and Europe through a combination of company-owned and franchised restaurants.

Newly-formed enterprise Marugame Udon (Europe) Limited, a joint venture between brand owner Toridoll Holdings Corporation and Capdesia Group Limited, will act as the master franchisee, so it’s unclear exactly when the brand will be searching for new franchisees in the UK. However, franchising will form a key part of its expansion, so keep your eyes peeled for opportunities.

History of Marugame Udon

Though it only recently began its European expansion project, Marugame Udon has been in business for 20 years. During that time, it has concentrated its focus on Japan and Southeast Asia, where the market for noodle-based dishes has long been booming.

Marugame Udon is owned by Toridoll Holdings Corporation, a parent brand that operates almost 1,400 different restaurants across the world. Marugame Udon is the leading brand in the company’s portfolio and sums up Toridoll’s passion for delicious, freshly prepared meals.

After being founded in Japan, Marugame Udon spread across all of Nippon’s four main islands. The brand capitalised on Sanuki province’s esteemed reputation for producing the best udon noodles. Now, Japanese customers know Marugame Udon for its convenience and no-fuss service.

The Marugame Udon franchise first arrived in the States in 2017. That’s when it opened its first restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii under the name of Marukame Udon. With its reputation for clean-eating, Honolulu was the perfect gateway for the brand to move into the US.

Since then, Marugame Udon has grown on the West Coast. It is now delivering beautifully crafted food to customers from eight locations across California and Hawaii. In the future, Americans can expect to hear a lot more from this restaurant franchise as it expands into more states.

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Starting a Marugame Udon franchise unit

You can make your dream a reality with a Marugame Udon franchise unit, but you’ll need to meet its strict criteria. Here’s everything you need to know about joining the brand.

Becoming a Marugame Udon franchisee

Marugame Udon wants to talk business with people who are interested in becoming area development franchisees. They can choose which store model they want to adopt, from food court to street-front to stand-alone restaurant, depending on their preference.

Marugame Udon has stressed that it is essential that all applicants have a previous track record of success in restaurant management or multi-unit operations. If that’s something that you have behind your back, then you fit the bill for the ideal Marugame Udon franchisee.

How much you need to invest

If you want to start a Marugame Udon franchise unit, you’ll need plenty of capital behind you. The minimum investment required to open your own location stands at just £250,000, which is relatively affordable for an international restaurant franchise.

If you need some assistance with raising the capital to take part in this lucrative franchise opportunity, Marugame Udon can put you in contact with the UK’s leading lenders. That’s not surprising, given that investing in such a huge international brand seems like a safe bet.

What you get for your investment

As a part of its franchise package, Marugame offers a state-of-the-art training programme that helps all franchisees get up to scratch. Throughout their venture, franchise partners will receive guidance from the brand’s local support structures. That includes regular store appraisals, operational advice, updated promotional materials and access to strong property contacts.

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Similar franchise opportunities

Not sure Marugame Udon is the right franchise for you? Luckily, there are lots of other noodle bar franchise opportunities out there. Here are just two of our picks.

Wok&Go

Established in Chester in 2008, this Asian food franchise offers noodle and rice dishes, along with salads, soups and Asian ice creams. Wok&Go blends food traditions from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Japan to bring the very best healthy and speedy dishes to its customers.

The brand is based on very quick service. Despite only cooking individual dishes after the order has been made, it ensures that only fresh and nutritious food makes its way to customers. Asian food fanatics can find Wok&Go in 18 locations in the UK, across North West, North East and Southern England and Wales.

• Becoming a Wok&Go franchisee: The brand has high hopes for expansion and is particularly looking for qualified individual and corporate franchisees interested in opening up in the South of England, London and Manchester.

• How much you need to invest: Interested franchisees should make a total investment of £200,000 and pay franchise fees of £20,000.

• What you get for your investment: You will receive help in the recruitment and staff training processes and be allocated a dedicated area manager, who will visit the franchise unit twice a month.

Wok To Walk

You’ve probably seen Wok To Walk’s black and orange logo on the high street somewhere. Ever wondered if you could start your own? Well, read on to find out more about the exciting opportunity.There are over 85 Wok To Walk stores giving customers their Asian food fix and taking the food service industry by storm.

• Becoming a Wok To Walk franchisee: The franchise opportunity is flexible. You can open a flagship store or a hole-in-the-wall spot - it’s up to you! It’s the versatile business model that attracts all types of customers. Wok To Walk is looking for entrepreneurs who share its ambitious expansion plans.

• How much you need to invest: Restaurant start-up costs can vary, but you’re looking at around £100,000 for the minimum investment cost.

• What you get for your investment: As well as a globally recognised brand name, you will benefit from a tried and tested training programme. The HQ team works with franchisees and provides bespoke consultancy services and support.

Finding your perfect opportunity

No matter what your ideal franchise looks like, we’ve got more than 300 opportunities for you here at Point Franchise. Browse our franchise directory to find your perfect fit, or read our articles to learn more about the wonderful world of franchising.