Since last weekend, two unsettling incidents involving pests have led one of Japan's largest restaurant chains, Sukiya, to announce a significant temporary closure of its outlets. Known for its popular beef-on-rice dishes, the chain is taking decisive action after customers reported finding pests in their food, including a rat in a bowl of miso soup in January and more recently, an insect presumed to be a cockroach in Tokyo.
In a public statement, Sukiya confirmed that most of its nearly 2,000 restaurants would shut their doors from March 31 to April 4 for extensive cleaning, aimed at preventing any further pest intrusion and ensuring hygiene from internal infestations. The company expressed their deepest apologies for the "great inconvenience and concern" these incidents have caused to their customers.
Rumors regarding the January rat sighting had circulated on social media for weeks before Sukiya confirmed the incident and noted that it occurred prior to the food being consumed. After the occurrence in Tottori prompted a temporary restaurant closure, Sukiya undertook measures to address potential contamination points, including sealing cracks in the building and ensuring all rubbish was stored properly. However, the latest insect report has escalated the situation, leading to a more drastic action as the firm seeks to maintain public trust.
Furthermore, Sukiya is part of Zensho Holdings, which owns several restaurant chains in Japan and is under increased scrutiny following these revelations. After the recent announcement about the rat incident, the company's share price initially plummeted but managed to recover later in the week. The upcoming weeks will be crucial for Sukiya as they aim to regain customer confidence through enhanced food safety measures.
In a public statement, Sukiya confirmed that most of its nearly 2,000 restaurants would shut their doors from March 31 to April 4 for extensive cleaning, aimed at preventing any further pest intrusion and ensuring hygiene from internal infestations. The company expressed their deepest apologies for the "great inconvenience and concern" these incidents have caused to their customers.
Rumors regarding the January rat sighting had circulated on social media for weeks before Sukiya confirmed the incident and noted that it occurred prior to the food being consumed. After the occurrence in Tottori prompted a temporary restaurant closure, Sukiya undertook measures to address potential contamination points, including sealing cracks in the building and ensuring all rubbish was stored properly. However, the latest insect report has escalated the situation, leading to a more drastic action as the firm seeks to maintain public trust.
Furthermore, Sukiya is part of Zensho Holdings, which owns several restaurant chains in Japan and is under increased scrutiny following these revelations. After the recent announcement about the rat incident, the company's share price initially plummeted but managed to recover later in the week. The upcoming weeks will be crucial for Sukiya as they aim to regain customer confidence through enhanced food safety measures.
