Yoshinoya Announces UCLA Agreement

Yoshinoya Announces UCLA Agreement,
Unveils World’s First LEED Certified Yoshinoya

TORRANCE, Calif., March 23, 2010 - Yoshinoya, a leading global quick-service restaurant chain, announced today it has been approved to open a restaurant on the UCLA Campus at the new Court of Sciences Student Center in 2011.  Currently under construction, this new facility will meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria qualifying for LEED Silver or Gold Certification.  The U.S. Green Building Council awards certification to buildings that meet a suite of standards for environmentally sustainable design, construction and operation.  Yoshinoya’s new restaurant will be the company’s first “green” and non-traditional store.

 “We are honored to have been chosen by UCLA to participate in this exciting project,” said Vice President of Franchise Development and Sales, Scot Hobert.  “To ensure that our guests will completely enjoy their Yoshinoya dining experience on campus, Yoshinoya will be working closely with ASUCLA on the design and construction of this non-traditional restaurant.  We will continue to explore options for growth in the non-traditional market as well as in our traditional segment as we bring our "meal-in-a-bowl" menu to the American public.”

Slated to open in the Fall of 2011, Yoshinoya’s UCLA restaurant will feature many green amenities including an ultra violet hood, water cooled refrigeration, energy conscious equipment and green building materials.  All kitchen waste will be composted on site along with all kitchen waste generated in building by other tenants.  Yoshinoya will also incorporate the use of recycled and recyclable packaging.

“Although there will be significant differences in our some of our equipment and packaging in order to meet and sustain a LEED Certified restaurant, customers will continue to enjoy our original recipe Beef Bowl ®, great value and the same fresh Yoshinoya taste that made us famous,” stated Hobert. 

About Yoshinoya
Fresh, wholesome Japanese style cuisine is the essence of the Yoshinoya menu.  Its original Beef Bowl ® started it all in 1899 when the company opened its first restaurant in Tokyo, Japan.  Among the oldest quick-service restaurant chains in operation, Yoshinoya has continued to grow aggressively through corporate stores and national franchising.  Yoshinoya now has 96 restaurants in California, Arizona, Nevada and New York and more than 1,400 restaurants in Asia and America.  United States operations are headquartered in Torrance, Calif.  For more information, please call 310.527.6060 or visit www.YoshinoyaAmerica.com .  For franchise information, visit www.YoshinoyaFranchise.com.