HUB

What HUB does

HUB CO., LTD. (株式会社ハブ, TYO: 3030) is a Tokyo-based, publicly traded operator of British-style pubs in Japan, founded in 1980 by the late Isao Nakauchi (founder of The Daiei, Inc.) in Sannomiya, Kobe, with the current corporate entity re-established in 1998. The company runs an all-direct-store chain under the HUB brand and its companion sub-brand 82ALE HOUSE, spanning seven Japanese regions including Hokkaido, Miyagi, Niigata, Kanto, Aichi, Kansai, and Fukuoka. Its core offering combines an authentic British pub atmosphere with Japanese market customization, leveraging a cash-on-delivery service model where customers order at the register and self-seat, with a sales mix of approximately 80% drinks to 20% food.

The company's technology stack centers on a members card loyalty system with 5% discount, electronic money charging with bonus incentives, QR code-based multilingual menus (English/Korean) for international visitors, and a mobile app. It operates no franchise model, follows disciplined site selection targeting 10-20+ year location viability, and has had no store closures due to poor performance since 2001 (excluding COVID-19 impacts). Marketing channels include Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, sports sponsorships, and regional revitalization initiatives in partnership with ANA Akindo and local universities.

HUB generates revenue primarily through in-store food and beverage sales at accessible 'weekly magazine price' points, with secondary income from members card reloads and electronic money transactions. The customer base spans working professionals, families, community groups, and international tourists seeking English-language service. Distribution is exclusively through directly-operated physical storefronts in Japan, with no online delivery or franchise channel. The company also operates a shareholder benefit card program offering gift card values tied to shareholding level, functioning as both retail investor incentive and additional consumer touchpoint.

Name

HUB

Legal name

株式会社ハブ

Website

https://pub-hub.co.jp

Company type

Public

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

HUB CO., LTD. (TYO: 3030) is a Tokyo-based, publicly traded operator of directly-owned British-style pubs across seven Japanese regions, serving working professionals, families, and international tourists with drinks-heavy menus at accessible price points and a members card loyalty program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: Direct sales of food and beverages at British-style pub locations. The company maintains a sales mix of approximately 80% drinks to 20% food, positioning pubs as spaces for conversation and social gathering rather than dining-focused establishments.
2. Members Card and Electronic Money: Revenue from members card reloads with bonus money, and repeat customer purchases through the loyalty program that provides discounts and special offers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

HUB CO., LTD. operates a directly-managed chain of British-style pubs in Japan under the HUB and 82ALE HOUSE brands, selling food and beverages (approximately 80% drinks / 20% food) at affordable "weekly magazine" price points. The company runs an all-direct-store model (no franchise), uses a cash-on-delivery self-service ordering system, and operates a members card loyalty program that provides a 5% discount and electronic money functionality with bonus money on charges.

Product overview

HUB CO.,LTD. operates a network of British-style pubs under the HUB and 82ALE HOUSE brands, offering an authentic British pub atmosphere with drinks and food at accessible prices. The company utilizes a cash-on-delivery service system and maintains a members card loyalty program. Sales composition is approximately 80% drinks and 20% food. The company also offers shareholder benefits through a dedicated gift card system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• British Pub HUB (英国風PUB HUB) Core directly-operated British-style pub chain offering food and beverages (approximately 80% drinks, 20% food) in an authentic British pub atmosphere at affordable "weekly magazine" prices, targeting customers seeking a casual social space for conversation and community gatherings.
• 82ALE HOUSE Companion brand to HUB, also focused on British pub culture, with its own dedicated website and brand identity.
• Members Card (メンバーズカード) Reloadable loyalty card offering 5% discount on orders, electronic money functionality with bonus money on charges, and app integration for additional customer benefits.
• Shareholder Benefit Card (株主優待カード) Benefit card issued to shareholders providing gift card values ranging from 2,000 to 25,000 yen depending on shareholding level and holding period.

Quantifiable outcome

• Since 2001, no stores have closed due to poor business performance (excluding COVID-19 impacts)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ANAあきんど株式会社 (ANA Akindo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to promote regional charm and increase tourism. HUB stores in the Tokyo area offer local sake and regional products from various Japanese regions, creating interest and attracting visitors to those areas through food and beverage experiences.
• 大阪経済大学 (Osaka University of Economics)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsorship partnership with the university's athletics department (体育会陸上競技部). Supports student sports development as part of HUB's commitment to youth development and sports promotion.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Toridoll Holdings Corporation: Publicly listed Japanese restaurant holding company operating Marugame Seimen and other chains. Comparable as a Japanese multi-format restaurant operator pursuing international expansion, providing a benchmark for category-leader scale.
• Skylark Holdings Co., Ltd. Largest publicly listed Japanese casual restaurant holding company (Gusto, Bamiyan, etc.). Comparable as a multi-format Japanese restaurant operator with similar value positioning and broad geographic footprint, though substantially larger and more diversified than HUB.
• Colowide Co., Ltd. Publicly listed Japanese restaurant and entertainment operator with multiple casual dining brands. Comparable as a diversified Japanese restaurant chain with similar customer overlap and store-level economics in drinking establishments.

Regional players

• Saizeriya Co., Ltd. Italian family restaurant chain publicly listed in Japan with Asia-Pacific presence. Comparable as a publicly listed casual dining chain in Japan competing for the same value-oriented meal-out occasions, though operating a different cuisine format.

Direct peers

• Watami Co., Ltd. Major Japanese izakaya and casual dining chain operator, publicly listed on TSE. Closely comparable as a Japanese drinking-establishment chain targeting working professionals and casual social occasions, with a similar multi-store retail format.
• Kisoji Co., Ltd. Publicly listed Japanese restaurant chain operating traditional Japanese cuisine formats. Comparable as a small-to-mid-cap Japanese restaurant operator with similar value positioning and multi-store footprint.
• Atom Corp. Japanese restaurant chain operator including izakaya-style venues. Comparable as a smaller-cap publicly listed Japanese casual drinking establishment operator competing in the same category.
• Create Restaurants Holdings Inc. Publicly listed Japanese multi-brand restaurant chain operator with formats spanning izakaya to casual dining. Comparable as a Japanese chain operator of similar scale running multiple restaurant concepts targeting overlapping consumer occasions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hub_82
• Facebookfacebook.com/hub82
• Instagraminstagram.com/pubhub82

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 HUB