Saizeriya
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese chain of Italian
family-style restaurants. It is managed by .
in Ichikawa, Chiba
called Saizeriya while he was attending Tokyo University of Science
. The manager at the time recognized his skill, and when Shōgaki became a senior in school, he inherited the restaurant. Italian cuisine was becoming more popular at the time, so Shōgaki converted the restaurant to Italian food - but customers stopped coming. Shōgaki then cut the prices by 70%, and the restaurant did so well that lines started to appear, and he had to open another store.
In May 1973, Shōgaki established a kabushiki gaisha called in Ichikawa. The company then started doing expanding as a restaurant chain. The headquarters continued to be in Chiba prefecture. In 1987, the company changed its name to . In 1992, the company again changed its name to Saizeriya.
These days, the network of stores has grown considerably. As a low-price restaurant, the chain has grown to over 750 stores. There are a few forms that Saizeriya locations can take: they can be found in any number of buildings in Japan, as roadside stores, as piloti
types, locations in commerce buildings and train stations, and so on. If a desirable location is found, without questioning, they will actively continue in the capital region. Because Saizeriya will open a store where a competitor has withdrawn, the form of Saizeriya stores, as well as their trademarked logo that is posted on billboards is often varied.
Starting on August 24, 2005, they started operating a fast food store called . As of 2008, they operate three stores: one in Jūjō, Tokyo, one in Kawaguchi, and one in Aoto, Katsushika, Tokyo
.
In October 2006 it was announced that Saizeriya's stores had done the best in 8 years. As of August of that year, sales were up by 3%. Customer numbers were up by 2.1%, and the average amount spent per customer had increased by 0.8%. The company was able to cover the price of increasing its stores, as well as also improving the quality of the menu and achieve better results while also increasing its base customers and amount sold.
The store is not limited to Italian food; gratin and Hamburg steaks
were added to the menu, and a takeout menu was created.
The interior design of the store is decorated with pictures suggesting Italy, and Italian-style paintings are affixed to the ceilings.
, and as of August 2007, fifteen stores were in operation there.
Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arab cuisines...
family-style restaurants. It is managed by .
History
The current president of the company, Yasuhiko Shōgaki, worked at a western restaurantYoshoku
In Japanese cuisine, refers to a style of Western-influenced cooking which originated during the Meiji Restoration. These are primarily Japanized forms of European dishes, often featuring Western names, and usually written in katakana.- History :...
in Ichikawa, Chiba
Ichikawa, Chiba
is a city located in northwest Chiba, Japan, approximately 20 kilometers from the center of Tokyo. The city was founded on November 3, 1934. As of January 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 474,586 and a density of 8,259.42 persons per km². The total area is 57.46 km²...
called Saizeriya while he was attending Tokyo University of Science
Tokyo University of Science
Tokyo University of Science is a private university of science and technology in Japan...
. The manager at the time recognized his skill, and when Shōgaki became a senior in school, he inherited the restaurant. Italian cuisine was becoming more popular at the time, so Shōgaki converted the restaurant to Italian food - but customers stopped coming. Shōgaki then cut the prices by 70%, and the restaurant did so well that lines started to appear, and he had to open another store.
In May 1973, Shōgaki established a kabushiki gaisha called in Ichikawa. The company then started doing expanding as a restaurant chain. The headquarters continued to be in Chiba prefecture. In 1987, the company changed its name to . In 1992, the company again changed its name to Saizeriya.
These days, the network of stores has grown considerably. As a low-price restaurant, the chain has grown to over 750 stores. There are a few forms that Saizeriya locations can take: they can be found in any number of buildings in Japan, as roadside stores, as piloti
Piloti
Pilotis, or piers, are supports such as columns, pillars, or stilts that lift a building above ground or water. They are traditionally found in stilt and pole dwellings such as fishermen's huts in Asia and Scandinavia using wood and in elevated houses such as Old Queenslanders in Australia's...
types, locations in commerce buildings and train stations, and so on. If a desirable location is found, without questioning, they will actively continue in the capital region. Because Saizeriya will open a store where a competitor has withdrawn, the form of Saizeriya stores, as well as their trademarked logo that is posted on billboards is often varied.
Starting on August 24, 2005, they started operating a fast food store called . As of 2008, they operate three stores: one in Jūjō, Tokyo, one in Kawaguchi, and one in Aoto, Katsushika, Tokyo
Katsushika, Tokyo
is one of the special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It lies in the northeast of the ward area. The ward calls itself Katsushika City in English.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population of 429,289 and a density of 12,600 people per km²...
.
In October 2006 it was announced that Saizeriya's stores had done the best in 8 years. As of August of that year, sales were up by 3%. Customer numbers were up by 2.1%, and the average amount spent per customer had increased by 0.8%. The company was able to cover the price of increasing its stores, as well as also improving the quality of the menu and achieve better results while also increasing its base customers and amount sold.
Timeline
- April 1968 - Yasuhiko Shōgaki takes over the Saizeriya store and starts a private business.
- May 1973 - The private business becomes a corporation, and the Maria-nu company is established.
- December 1977 - Multiple stores start opening.
- April 1981 - Start of the shopping center stores: in LaLaPort.
- May 1983 - The company moves to a new location in Ishikawa, Chiba.
- March 1987 - Start of the train station stores: in Shapō.
- April 1987 - The company changes its name to Maria-no.
- October 1987 - An "Order Entry System" is introduced.
- September 1989 - Start of the suburban roadside stores: in Mito KaidōMito Kaidowas an old kaidō in Japan and a subroute to the Edo Five Routes. It was built to connect Edo with Mito in modern-day Ibaraki Prefecture. Travelers from Edo called it Mito Kaidō, but travelers from Mito called it Edo Kaidō. The kaidō's path is traced by the modern National Route 6.-Tokyo:-Chiba...
. - October 1991 - The company moves to Funabashi, ChibaFunabashi, Chibais a city located in northwestern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 609,157 and a population density of 7110 persons per km². The total area was 85.64 km². It is the 7th most populous city in Greater Tokyo....
. - September 1992 - The company changes its name to Saizeriya.
- July 1994 - The 100th store is opened in EnoshimaEnoshimais a small island, about 4 km in circumference, at the mouth of the Katase River, which flows into Sagami Bay in Japan. Part of the city of Fujisawa, it is linked to the Katase section of the same city on the mainland by a 600 meter-long bridge...
. - October 1997 - A factory is built in Yoshikawa, SaitamaYoshikawa, Saitamais a city located in Saitama, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city had an estimated population of 66,773, with 25,194 households and a density of 2,111.73 persons per km². The total area is 31.62 km².The city incorporated as a city on April 1, 1996...
. The company moves there. - April 1998 - The company registers its stock with JASDAQ Securities ExchangeJASDAQ Securities ExchangeThe was a securities exchange headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, now the name of the market by the Osaka Securities Exchange in Kitahama, Osaka.JASDAQ is not related to NASDAQ in the United States, but operates an electronic trading system similar to NASDAQ.-History:...
and starts selling. - July 1999 - Two stocks are listed on the Tokyo Stock ExchangeTokyo Stock ExchangeThe , called or TSE for short, is located in Tokyo, Japan and is the third largest stock exchange in the world by aggregate market capitalization of its listed companies...
. - August 2000 - One stock changes its designation.
- October 2001 - The 500th store is opened in Kyōnan, Yamanashi.
- December 2003 - The first overseas store is opened in ShanghaiShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
. - August 2005 - "Eat Run", a new fast food store, opens.
- November 2005 - "Spa-Q" and "TacoQ", two new stores, open in Saitama.
- April 2007 - "Saizeriya Express", a new low cost spaghetti shop, opens in Green Walk, Hachioji, Tokyo.
- December 2007 - A store opens in Guangzhou, China.
- October 2010 - Saizeriya Italian Restaurant (薩莉亞意式餐廳) opens in North Point, Hong Kong.
- 2010 - Saizeriya opens around 6 stores in Beijing, China.
Features
For only 26,000 yen, one can order everything on Saizeriya's low price menu. This was done on the July 18, 2008 broadcast of Rankin no Rakuen, a variety show. Stores offer a number of alcoholic drinks and more than 10 types of wines. Saizeriya is the number one importer of Italian wine into Japan.The store is not limited to Italian food; gratin and Hamburg steaks
Salisbury steak
Salisbury steak is a dish made from a blend of minced beef and other ingredients, which is shaped to resemble a steak, and usually is served with gravy / brown sauce. Hamburger steak is a similar product, but differs in ingredients....
were added to the menu, and a takeout menu was created.
The interior design of the store is decorated with pictures suggesting Italy, and Italian-style paintings are affixed to the ceilings.
Management company
In August 2008, Saizeriya Co,. Ltd. started a chain of fast food hamburger specialty shops called . There are currently six shops. In June 2003, a subsidiary was established in ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, and as of August 2007, fifteen stores were in operation there.