Genji

What Genji does

Genji is a Philadelphia-founded, Japanese-inspired pan-Asian cuisine brand that operates more than 265 sushi bars and counters inside Whole Foods Market stores across 43 US states, making it the largest sushi vendor in the WFM chain. The company is part of the global Hana Group family, with US operations conducted through Hana Group US LLC and ultimate parent HANA GROUP SAS (France). Genji's menu spans four core product categories — sushi rolls and nigiri, poke bowls, wok hot dishes, and sushi platters — all prepared on-site by 900+ chefs trained to standardized food-safety and freshness protocols. The supporting technology stack is rooted in food preparation rather than software; there is no disclosed proprietary platform, AI/ML capability, or API surface.

Genji makes money through three revenue streams: (i) direct retail sales of freshly prepared sushi, poke bowls, and wok items to grocery shoppers in WFM stores; (ii) franchise fees and ongoing royalties from independent franchisees operating under the Hana Group US franchise system; and (iii) delivery commissions from third-party marketplaces such as Uber Eats. Distribution is anchored by the Whole Foods retail partnership (in place since 1997), franchise-operated standalone locations, and an Uber Eats delivery channel for off-premise orders. Unit-level pricing is approximately $5-15 per sushi roll and higher per platter/catering item.

The customer base is concentrated on health-conscious, premium-grocery shoppers, supplemented by franchisee operators (SMBs) who are themselves revenue contributors through fees and royalties. Marketing is driven primarily through an active Instagram channel (@genjisushibars), food-holiday promotional campaigns (International Sushi Day, International Poke Day), and Uber Eats promotional mechanics. The registered Genji® trademark and a "responsible sourcing" page reinforce the brand's sustainability positioning within the grocery-sushi category.

Name

Genji

Legal name

HANA GROUP SAS

Website

https://genjiweb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Genji is a US sushi and pan-Asian cuisine brand operating 265+ counters inside Whole Foods Market stores across 43 states. It serves health-conscious grocery shoppers with sushi, poke bowls, and wok dishes via a franchise model under parent Hana Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quick-Service Sushi and Pan-Asian Restaurants

NAICS

Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (31171)

SIC

Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Store Sushi & Asian Prepared Foods (CRAHAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sushi/Sashimi-Grade & Raw Ready-to-Serve Seafood (Including Poke) (AFANALAI), Ethnic/Regional Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (e.g., Asian, Latin, Mediterranean) (AFANAFAJ), Deli & prepared foods (retail/foodservice pack) manufacturing (AFAKAHAF)

Keywords

• Retail sushi counters
• Pan-Asian cuisine
• Sushi franchise
• Grocery store sushi
• Sustainable seafood

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Sushi Sales: Sale of freshly prepared sushi, poke bowls, and pan-Asian cuisine directly to consumers at retail locations within Whole Foods Market and other retailers
2. Franchise Fees and Royalties: Revenue generated from franchisees through initial franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments based on sales performance
3. Delivery Platform Commissions: Sales through Uber Eats and other delivery platforms generating transaction-based revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Genji prepares and sells fresh sushi, poke bowls, wok dishes, and assorted sushi platters directly to consumers at more than 265 retail sushi counters and bars located primarily inside Whole Foods Market stores across 43 U.S. states. The brand also licenses its operating model to franchisees who open Genji sushi locations under the Hana Group umbrella.

Product overview

Genji is a pan-Asian cuisine restaurant brand and franchise operation that is part of the Hana Group family. Founded in 1997 and operating over 265 locations in the United States (primarily within Whole Foods Market stores), Genji is the largest sushi vendor within the Whole Foods Market chain. The company offers a unified menu organized into four main product categories: Sushi (rolls and nigiri), Poke Bowls, Wok (hot dishes), and Sushi Platters. Genji also offers franchise opportunities for entrepreneurs. The company emphasizes quality, freshness, authenticity, and sustainability in its food offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Genji Sushi (Pan-Asian Restaurant Brand) Core retail brand offering freshly prepared sushi, poke bowls, wok dishes, and sushi platters at more than 265 locations inside Whole Foods Market stores across the United States; sold directly to consumers.
• Sushi (Rolls & Nigiri) Traditional sushi offerings including rolls (California Roll, Salmon Avocado Roll, Spicy Tuna Avocado Roll, Crunchy varieties) and nigiri (All Salmon Nigiri, Tuna Salmon Nigiri combos) sold by the piece at retail counters.
• Poke Bowls Hawaiian-style poke bowls including Salmon Kabuki Poke Bowl, Lomi Poke Bowl, and Aloha Poke Bowl with various proteins and toppings; sold as individual meals.
• Wok (Hot Asian Dishes) Asian hot dishes including Shrimp Tempura, Chicken Katsu with rice/noodles/fried rice, Teriyaki Salmon, Dumplings (Vegetable, Chicken, Shrimp), Summer Rolls, and Spring Rolls.
• Sushi Platters Assorted sushi platters for sharing including Combo Platter, Signature Platter, Family Platter, Vegetable Platter, Classic Platter, Salmon Platter, Tuna & Salmon Platter, and Favorites Platter.
• Genji Franchise Opportunities Franchise offering for entrepreneurs to operate Genji-branded sushi bars with franchise fees, royalties, training, marketing, and operational guidance from Hana Group.

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Whole Foods MarketcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1997Strategic retail partnership since 1997. Genji operates sushi counters inside Whole Foods Market stores, making Genji the largest sushi vendor within the Whole Foods chain. Partnership enables Genji to reach health-conscious consumers in premium retail environments across 43 states.
• Hana GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenji is part of the global Hana Group family of brands. Hana Group US is a leading sushi provider with over two decades of experience across 43 states. Parent company provides franchise support, operational systems, and brand governance.
• Uber EatsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDelivery platform partnership enabling customers to order Genji sushi for home delivery. Promotional campaigns including percentage discounts and buy-one-get-one offers are run periodically through the platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Snowfox: Snowfox is the largest direct competitor to Genji, operating Japanese sushi and Asian prepared-food counters inside US grocery banners (including Kroger, H-E-B, and Albertsons). Directly comparable on in-store sushi-bar-in-grocer model, multi-state footprint, and franchise-style operator structure.
• Sushi Stop: Sushi Stop is a US-based sushi bar/franchise chain offering freshly prepared sushi, poke bowls, and pan-Asian dishes in retail and quick-service settings. Overlaps with Genji on made-to-order sushi, pan-Asian menu breadth, and franchise unit model.
• Poké House: Italian-origin Poké House operates fast-casual poke bowl and sushi restaurants with a focus on Hawaiian-style bowls. Comparable to Genji on poke-as-core-product, on-trend positioning, and multi-market expansion strategy.
• Sweetfin Poke: Sweetfin is a US poke-bowl and sushi quick-service chain with multiple locations and direct digital ordering. Comparable to Genji on poke bowl menu, sustainable seafood positioning, and urban/professional consumer base.
• Kona Sushi Café / Café Kona: Kona Sushi/Café Kona is a US sushi and Asian fusion restaurant chain with multiple locations, comparable on prepared-to-order sushi and pan-Asian menu served in counter/quick-service formats.

Others

• Trader Joe's (sushi program): Trader Joe's operates a robust in-house sushi program across its US store base and competes for the same grab-and-go sushi shopper, though under private label rather than as a third-party operator.
• Hana Group (parent): Hana Group SAS is Genji's Paris-based parent company and the strategic operator of multiple sushi/poke brands (Sushi Gourmet, Poké Lé Lé, Della Mamma) globally. Comparable as the orchestrator of the pan-Asian franchise infrastructure under which Genji operates.

Broad incumbents

• Whole Foods Market: Whole Foods Market is Genji's primary retail host and could in-source sushi or switch to a competitor (Snowfox). Overlaps as the broader prepared-food retailing environment in which Genji operates.

Emerging players

• Sushiya: Sushiya is an emerging US sushi bar/grab-and-go operator focusing on smaller-format retail and grocery locations. Comparable on prepared sushi sold via grocery-channel retail counters.

Regional players

• Mai Sushi: Mai Sushi is a regional US sushi brand operating in-store counters and small restaurant footprints; partially comparable to Genji on grocery-channel sushi bar model but typically concentrated in fewer states.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/genjisushibars
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/genji-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Genji