Garden Co. Accelerates "Dual-Wield Dining" Strategy, Drastically Raising Target to 100 Stores by Year-End
Garden Co., Ltd. is accelerating its "Dual-Wield Dining" strategy, which involves co-locating its "Abura Soba Sohonten" brand within the existing "Ichikakuya" store network. Due to the strong performance of pilot stores, the company has raised its year-end expansion target from the initial 30 stores to over three times that, aiming for 100. This initiative promotes a business model reform that leverages existing assets to increase profitability with low investment.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 00:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 18, 2026 at 16:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 18, 2026 at 17:22 (1h 20m after Collected)
Garden Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Masaru Kawashima; hereinafter "the Company") will further accelerate the development of its "Abura Soba Sohonten," operated by the Company, as a hybrid store model utilizing the store network of "Ichikakuya" and its affiliated stores. The Company had previously aimed to introduce "Abura Soba Sohonten" to 30 stores within the year and 100 stores in one year. Now, following the solid start of stores that were renovated and reopened in April and May, the Company has revised its initial goal of 30 stores within the year upwards to a system of 100 stores, more than a threefold increase, and will further accelerate the pace of expansion. The Company has positioned the development of these hybrid stores—adding the products and signage of "Abura Soba Sohonten" to "Ichikakuya" while utilizing the location, facilities, and operational foundation of existing stores in prime near-station and downtown areas—as its "Dual-Wield Dining" strategy. By leveraging the assets of existing stores, the Company will build a store model that suppresses initial investment compared to new store openings and is conducive to rapid expansion and improved profitability.
■ About the "Dual-Wield Dining" Strategy
The Company's "Dual-Wield Dining" strategy is an initiative that creates two brand touchpoints in one store by introducing "Abura Soba Sohonten" while leveraging the prime near-station locations, kitchen facilities, personnel systems, and operational know-how of existing "Ichikakuya" stores. By utilizing the fixed cost structure of existing stores, fixed costs such as rent and labor are absorbed within the "Ichikakuya" business format. This creates a structure where the gross profit from the sales of the additionally introduced "Abura Soba Sohonten," minus raw material costs, becomes almost entirely operating profit. This allows for speedy store expansion and improved investment efficiency by focusing on adding signage and products to existing stores, while suppressing the large initial investments and security deposits associated with new openings. The goal is to establish a 30-store system, mainly in front of train stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area, in just about one and a half months.
■ About "Ichikakuya"
"Ichikakuya" offers Yokohama Iekei ramen featuring medium-thick noodles with a rich wheat aroma and flavor, paired with a rich and creamy pork bone soup, under the slogan, "Addictive on the first try. Unforgettable on the second. Can't stop on the third." To deliver its special Iekei ramen to many customers, Ichikakuya has expanded to over 100 stores nationwide. *Website: https://ichikakuya.com/ *Store Information: https://gardengroup.co.jp/brand/ichikakuya/
■ About "Abura Soba Sohonten"
"Abura Soba Sohonten" offers abura soba (oil noodles) made with smooth and chewy medium-thick noodles, developed through extensive research, tossed in a special sauce with a rich dashi flavor. Enjoy it standard, or create your own original bowl with a variety of toppings and seasonings to find your favorite taste. Healthier than ramen, yet satisfyingly filling. Enjoy our outstanding abura soba.
■ About Garden Co., Ltd.
Under the mission of "providing a space where everyone involved with our company can be happy, energetic, and smiling," we operate in the food and beverage and real estate businesses. Since our founding, we have successfully rebuilt and revitalized more than 12 companies through M&A, leading to business expansion. In the food and beverage business, which we entered in 2006, we operate a total of 12 different restaurant brands, including "Ichikakuya," "Yamashita Honki Udon," "Manbaken," and "Takadaya." Leveraging synergies with our real estate business, we will continue to aim for the expansion of our main brand stores with a "prime location strategy" of opening stores near train stations.
Company Name: Garden Co., Ltd.
Stock Code: Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market 274A
Established: December 2015
Capital: 2,391 million yen *As of the end of February 2026
Number of Employees: Full-time: 289, Part-time: 3,594 *As of the end of February 2026
Number of Stores: 211 (including 34 FC stores) *As of April 28, 2026
■ Inquiries regarding this matter
Garden Co., Ltd. "Ichikakuya" inquiry contact
URL: https://gardengroup.co.jp/brand/ichikakuya/contact/
Garden Co., Ltd. "Abura Soba Sohonten" inquiry contact
URL: https://gardengroup.co.jp/brand/darumanome/contact/
■ About the "Dual-Wield Dining" Strategy
The Company's "Dual-Wield Dining" strategy is an initiative that creates two brand touchpoints in one store by introducing "Abura Soba Sohonten" while leveraging the prime near-station locations, kitchen facilities, personnel systems, and operational know-how of existing "Ichikakuya" stores. By utilizing the fixed cost structure of existing stores, fixed costs such as rent and labor are absorbed within the "Ichikakuya" business format. This creates a structure where the gross profit from the sales of the additionally introduced "Abura Soba Sohonten," minus raw material costs, becomes almost entirely operating profit. This allows for speedy store expansion and improved investment efficiency by focusing on adding signage and products to existing stores, while suppressing the large initial investments and security deposits associated with new openings. The goal is to establish a 30-store system, mainly in front of train stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area, in just about one and a half months.
■ About "Ichikakuya"
"Ichikakuya" offers Yokohama Iekei ramen featuring medium-thick noodles with a rich wheat aroma and flavor, paired with a rich and creamy pork bone soup, under the slogan, "Addictive on the first try. Unforgettable on the second. Can't stop on the third." To deliver its special Iekei ramen to many customers, Ichikakuya has expanded to over 100 stores nationwide. *Website: https://ichikakuya.com/ *Store Information: https://gardengroup.co.jp/brand/ichikakuya/
■ About "Abura Soba Sohonten"
"Abura Soba Sohonten" offers abura soba (oil noodles) made with smooth and chewy medium-thick noodles, developed through extensive research, tossed in a special sauce with a rich dashi flavor. Enjoy it standard, or create your own original bowl with a variety of toppings and seasonings to find your favorite taste. Healthier than ramen, yet satisfyingly filling. Enjoy our outstanding abura soba.
■ About Garden Co., Ltd.
Under the mission of "providing a space where everyone involved with our company can be happy, energetic, and smiling," we operate in the food and beverage and real estate businesses. Since our founding, we have successfully rebuilt and revitalized more than 12 companies through M&A, leading to business expansion. In the food and beverage business, which we entered in 2006, we operate a total of 12 different restaurant brands, including "Ichikakuya," "Yamashita Honki Udon," "Manbaken," and "Takadaya." Leveraging synergies with our real estate business, we will continue to aim for the expansion of our main brand stores with a "prime location strategy" of opening stores near train stations.
Company Name: Garden Co., Ltd.
Stock Code: Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market 274A
Established: December 2015
Capital: 2,391 million yen *As of the end of February 2026
Number of Employees: Full-time: 289, Part-time: 3,594 *As of the end of February 2026
Number of Stores: 211 (including 34 FC stores) *As of April 28, 2026
■ Inquiries regarding this matter
Garden Co., Ltd. "Ichikakuya" inquiry contact
URL: https://gardengroup.co.jp/brand/ichikakuya/contact/
Garden Co., Ltd. "Abura Soba Sohonten" inquiry contact
URL: https://gardengroup.co.jp/brand/darumanome/contact/