Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Major Japanese Restaurant Chain Sukiya Temporarily Closes Locations After Pest Concerns
A prominent restaurant chain in Japan, Sukiya, is temporarily shutting down its locations nationwide for intensive cleaning and pest control measures. This decision follows two recent incidents where customers discovered pests, including a rat, in their food, sparking significant food safety concerns.
Rat Incident in Miso Soup Prompts Initial Response
Sukiya, a popular chain renowned for its beef-on-rice dishes, announced the forthcoming temporary closures after a customer reported finding an insect in their meal. This incident compounded an earlier admission from the company regarding a rat discovered in a bowl of miso soup in January. The company confirmed the rodent was found at a restaurant in Tottori city and that the location was temporarily closed to address structural vulnerabilities.
Nationwide Closures for Preventative Measures
The restaurant operator, boasting nearly 2,000 sites across Japan, stated that the majority of its establishments will cease operations between March 31st and April 4th. This nationwide shutdown aims “to prevent external intrusion and internal infestation of pests and vermin,” according to an official statement.
Public Apology and Remedial Actions
In its public statement, Sukiya expressed regret for the “significant inconvenience and worry caused” by these incidents. Prior measures taken after the rat incident included inspecting outlets for structural gaps and implementing refrigerated storage for waste.
Cockroach Discovery Leads to Escalated Action
While rumors of the rat incident circulated on social media prior to official confirmation, the more recent discovery of an insect, widely identified as a cockroach, in a Tokyo outlet prompted the more comprehensive response. This latest incident occurred on Friday when a customer found the insect in their meal.
Immediate Restaurant Closures and Pest Control Implementation
Following the cockroach report, the restaurant manager issued an apology and provided the affected customer with a refund. Subsequently, the implicated Tokyo restaurant was immediately closed, and a specialized pest control service was contacted to address the issue.
Parent Company and Market Reaction
Sukiya is a subsidiary of Zensho Holdings, a parent corporation overseeing numerous restaurant chains in Japan. Following the initial disclosure of the rat incident the previous week, Zensho Holdings’ share price experienced a temporary decline before partially recovering. Market analysts anticipate renewed scrutiny on the company’s stock following the announcement of the nationwide closures and ongoing pest control concerns.