Sushi Zen Sa
Sushi Zen SA is a Lausanne-based Japanese cuisine operator producing 40,000+ sushi pieces daily across 20+ Swiss points of sale via e-commerce, owned boutiques, Manor department stores, UberEats, catering, and sit-down restaurants, serving Swiss consumers seeking fresh, traditional sushi.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Sushi Zen Sa does
Sushi Zen SA is a Lausanne-headquartered Japanese cuisine platform that distributes more than 40,000 sushi pieces daily across 20+ points of sale in Switzerland. Its core products — maki, nigiri, california rolls, temaki, sashimi, gunkan, and assorted platters for 1–5 persons — are prepared by itamae trained by Japanese masters (including co-founder Ken Kawakami) in a centralized Lausanne workshop, with fish sourced directly from producers and arriving the day after catch. Complementary product lines include gyoza, Japanese salads, The Mochi House mochi desserts, bubble tea, sauces, and snacks. Proprietary preparation methods include cast-iron rice cooking with a house-blended vinegar recipe and continuous temperature and humidity control. Distribution spans owned e-commerce sites (lausanne.sushizen.ch, nyon.sushizen.ch) with free 45-minute home delivery above CHF 30, click-and-collect at 11+ boutique locations, Manor department stores across 14+ Swiss locations, UberEats, catering for events, and the Naruto restaurant sub-brand. The company is privately held by co-founders Daniel Lévy (2004 acquirer and business lead) and Ken Kawakami (Japanese sushi chef and operations director), with no disclosed institutional investment.
Sushi Zen Sa firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sushi Zen Sa
- Legal name
- Sushi Zen SA
- Website
- https://sushizen.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Sushi Zen SA is a Lausanne-based Japanese cuisine operator producing 40,000+ sushi pieces daily across 20+ Swiss points of sale via e-commerce, owned boutiques, Manor department stores, UberEats, catering, and sit-down restaurants, serving Swiss consumers seeking fresh, traditional sushi.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sushi Zen Sa industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Retail
- NAICS
- Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710), Fish and Seafood Retailers (44525)
- SIC
- Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)
- akta.pro primary industry
- In-Store Sushi & Asian Prepared Foods (CRAHAKAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sushi/Sashimi-Grade & Raw Ready-to-Serve Seafood (Including Poke) (AFANALAI)
Keywords
Where Sushi Zen Sa is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices15 records
Markets served
Sushi Zen Sa business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: Sale of sushi plates, individual pieces, and Japanese food products directly to consumers through e-commerce website for home delivery and through physical boutique stores for take-away and dine-in.
- Catering Services: Event catering services for private events including birthdays, weddings, and corporate functions. Restaurant privatization available at Grancy location.
- Retail Distribution: Sale of sushi products through Manor department store locations across Switzerland.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual portion assortments (1 person) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Couple/Family assortments (1-5 persons) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mochi Ice Cream Desserts |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bubble Tea beverages |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sushi Bar Enning Fixed Menu |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels4 records
Sushi Zen Sa product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sushi Zen SA sells fresh Japanese sushi and complementary Japanese food products through direct-to-consumer channels. The company produces sushi daily at its Lausanne workshop, using fish sourced directly from selected producers (delivered the day after catch) and rice cooked in cast iron pots with a proprietary vinegar recipe by Japanese master-trained itamae chefs. Offerings include sushi platters (1-5 persons), à la carte pieces (maki, nigiri, california rolls, temaki, sashimi, gunkan), plus gyoza, salads, mochi desserts, bubble tea, beverages, and sauces, distributed via e-commerce home delivery, owned boutiques, Manor retail stores, UberEats, dine-in sushi bars, and catering.
Product overview
Sushi Zen SA operates a multi-channel Japanese cuisine business consisting of (1) an e-commerce platform for online sushi ordering with home delivery and click-and-collect, (2) 13 boutique takeaway locations and 3 Naruto restaurant locations across Switzerland, (3) the Sushi Bar Rue Enning traditional counter-dining concept, and (4) catering services for events. The core product line centers on fresh sushi prepared daily by Japanese-trained itamae chefs, featuring maki rolls, nigiri, california rolls, temaki, sashimi, and gunkan. Complementing products include gyoza dumplings, Japanese salads, mochi ice cream from The Mochi House, bubble tea, beverages, sauces, and snacks. The company differentiates through same-day fish sourcing, direct producer relationships, and traditional Japanese preparation methods.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 40,000+ sushi pieces distributed daily
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Sushi Zen Sa
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Sushi Zen Sa technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
Sushi Zen Sa partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ManorcoreManor department stores serve as retail distribution points for Sushizen products. Sushizen products are sold in over 14 Manor locations across Switzerland including Chavannes, Lausanne, Lugano, Vesenaz, Vevey, Genève, Vezia, Fribourg, Monthey, Bienne, Marin, Sierre, Sion, and Ascona.
- Naruto Restaurant GroupminorNaruto is a sister brand operating Japanese restaurants at multiple locations (Lausanne Grancy, Nyon, and Balexert) under the Sushi Zen umbrella/group structure.
- The Mochi HouseminorSwiss artisan mochi ice cream manufacturer supplying handcrafted mochi desserts sold at Sushizen locations. Products include gluten-free and lactose-free options.
- Tendance FruitminorLocal artisan producer in Aclens supplying caramelized cashews with caramel and sesame topping, sold as premium snacks at Sushizen locations.
- NojominorSpecialty sauce brand supplying Nojo White Miso and Nojo Teriyaki sauces for use with Sushizen gyoza and other dishes.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sushi Zen Sa competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Poke House: Fast-growing poke bowl and Asian-inspired chain with locations across Europe including Switzerland. Overlaps with Sushizen on fresh, customizable Asian cuisine for takeaway and dine-in.
Direct peers
- Sushi Shop: European sushi restaurant and takeaway chain founded in France, operating boutiques and delivery across multiple countries. Directly comparable to Sushizen's boutique-plus-delivery model and Japanese cuisine focus.
- Sushi Daily: European sushi-in-supermarkets concept with fresh sushi kiosks inside major retailers. Comparable to Sushizen's Manor distribution model and fresh-prepared sushi positioning.
- YO! Sushi: UK sushi restaurant and takeaway chain known for conveyor-belt service and grab-and-go. Comparable Japanese cuisine focus with multi-channel retail and delivery presence.
- Planet Sushi: French sushi restaurant and delivery chain offering made-to-order sushi, sashimi, and Asian dishes for takeaway and home delivery. Closely matches Sushizen's DTC retail and e-commerce positioning.
- Wasabi (Wasabi Sushi): UK-based sushi and Asian food takeaway and delivery chain with physical stores. Comparable sushi chain format with similar takeaway and delivery customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Coop (Switzerland): Major Swiss retailer with prepared food counters and private-label sushi. Compares as a broad incumbent with overlapping fresh prepared seafood retail footprint.
- Migros: Switzerland's largest retailer with extensive fresh prepared food, sushi counters, and own-brand offerings. Represents the broader incumbent competitive context for Sushizen's prepared sushi segment.
Others
- The Mochi House: Swiss artisan mochi ice cream supplier whose products are sold at Sushizen locations. Compares as a complementary Swiss specialty food partner in the same premium Japanese-inspired category.
- Manor: Major Swiss department store chain serving as Sushizen's key retail distribution partner across 14+ locations. Compares as both customer and potential competitor given Manor's broader food retail offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Customer concentration
Sushi Zen Sa social profiles
Digital presenceSushi Zen Sa financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sushi Zen Sa leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sushi Zen Sa funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sushi Zen Sa M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sushi Zen Sa
What does Sushi Zen Sa do?
Sushi Zen SA sells fresh Japanese sushi and complementary Japanese food products through direct-to-consumer channels. The company produces sushi daily at its Lausanne workshop, using fish sourced directly from selected producers (delivered the day after catch) and rice cooked in cast iron pots with a proprietary vinegar recipe by Japanese master-trained itamae chefs. Offerings include sushi platters (1-5 persons), à la carte pieces (maki, nigiri, california rolls, temaki, sashimi, gunkan), plus gyoza, salads, mochi desserts, bubble tea, beverages, and sauces, distributed via e-commerce home delivery, owned boutiques, Manor retail stores, UberEats, dine-in sushi bars, and catering.
Is Sushi Zen Sa a public or private company?
Sushi Zen Sa is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sushi Zen Sa founded?
Sushi Zen Sa was founded in 2004.
Where is Sushi Zen Sa based?
Sushi Zen Sa is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Sushi Zen Sa make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Direct Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are catering Services and retail Distribution.
Who are Sushi Zen Sa's main competitors?
Poke House is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Sushi Shop, Sushi Daily, YO! Sushi, Planet Sushi and Wasabi (Wasabi Sushi). Broad incumbents are Coop (Switzerland) and Migros. Others are The Mochi House and Manor.
Does Sushi Zen Sa have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sushi Zen Sa.
What industry is Sushi Zen Sa in?
Sushi Zen Sa's product category is Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAKAD, In-Store Sushi & Asian Prepared Foods, with a secondary code of AFANALAI, Sushi/Sashimi-Grade & Raw Ready-to-Serve Seafood (Including Poke). Its NAICS code is 3117 and its SIC code is 2092.