[Creating a Cool Future for People and Food] Pay it Forward Inc. Revamps to Industry-Top Salary System! Achieving 'Visualization of Evaluation and Compensation' with a 10-Level Grading System from Trainees to Division Managers (April 2026)

■ Details of the New Salary System
Monthly salary of 365,000 yen for general employees, and 540,000 yen for store managers.
We have revamped to a top-tier salary system in the restaurant industry, and under the purpose of 'Creating a cool future for people and food,' we will change the common sense of the industry.

[Management and Supervisory Positions]
Division Manager (Ranks 1-10)
Monthly Income: 630,000 yen - 675,000 yen

Section Manager (Ranks 1-10)
Monthly Income: 550,000 yen - 622,000 yen

Store Manager / Head Chef (Ranks 1-10)
Monthly Income: 450,000 yen - 540,000 yen

Acting Store Manager / Acting Head Chef (Ranks 1-10)
Monthly Income: 390,000 yen - 435,000 yen

[General Positions]
Deputy Store Manager / Deputy Head Chef (Ranks 1-4)
Monthly Income: 370,000 yen - 385,000 yen

General Employee A (Ranks 1-4)
Monthly Income: 350,000 yen - 365,000 yen

General Employee B (Rank 1)
Monthly Income: 310,000 yen

Trainee Employee (Ranks 1-3)
Monthly Income: 218,228 yen - 297,919 yen

■ Features of the Salary System
- A clear grading system determined by two axes: Position x Rank (1-10 levels)
- Total provision amount including fixed overtime pay and fixed late-night allowance is set for each position
- Position allowance is paid separately for store managers/head chefs and above (up to 50,000 yen)

[Actual Examples of Salary Increases]
- Monthly salary 270k yen ⇒ 435k yen (23 years old, 1st year of joining, Store Manager)
- Monthly salary 350k yen ⇒ 500k yen (32 years old, 2nd year of joining, Manager)
- Monthly salary 270k yen ⇒ 630k yen (34 years old, 4th year of joining, Department Manager)

■ Career Advancement Model (Estimate)
Trainee Employee: Monthly income approx. 218,000 - 297,919 yen
　↓ Accumulation of skills and experience
General Employee B/A: Monthly income 310,000 - 365,000 yen
　↓ Exercising leadership
Deputy Store Manager / Deputy Head Chef: Monthly income 370,000 - 385,000 yen
　↓ Taking charge of store operations
Acting Store Manager / Acting Head Chef: Monthly income 390,000 - 435,000 yen
　↓ To the top of the store
Store Manager / Head Chef: Monthly income 450,000 - 540,000 yen (Annual income approx. 5.4 - 6.48 million yen)
　↓ Area/Business supervision
Division Manager: Monthly income 630,000 - 675,000 yen (Annual income approx. 7.56 - 8.1 million yen)

[Achievement Examples]
- Multiple staff members have achieved a monthly income of 380,000 yen by being promoted to Acting Store Manager in about 2 years after joining
- Foreign staff are also evaluated on the same salary table (regardless of nationality or background)

■ Background to Revamping the Salary System
Toward the realization of our purpose 'Creating a cool future for Japan through food'
PMVV of Pay it Forward
The restaurant industry has been facing chronic talent shortages and long working hours, and voices saying 'salary is low' and 'career path is invisible' have become major barriers to recruitment and retention.
Based on CSV (Creating Shared Value) management, we have positioned 'realizing industry high-level salaries' as an important issue and have promoted reviews of profit structures and improvements in labor environments. This salary system revision is one of the specific initiatives.

By introducing a clear grading system based on position and rank, we expect effects such as:
- Staff can clearly understand their salary levels and career paths
- Improvement of motivation through transparency of evaluation criteria
- Ripple effect on labor reform in the entire industry

Toward the realization of our purpose 'Creating a cool future for Japan through food' and our mission 'Becoming a bridge between Japan and the world, and creating a cool future for people and food,' we will first tackle improving the happiness of each and every worker.

■ Future Prospects
In May 2026, we plan the grand opening of our first overseas store 'Robata Naru Hanoi' in Hanoi, Vietnam, and we are strengthening recruitment domestically and internationally. We are also promoting the construction of a recruitment system anticipating international expansion. We have a track record of foreign talent including Vietnamese staff, and we will continue to actively recruit diverse talent.

[Medium to Long-Term Vision]
- Expand to 150 domestic and overseas stores by 2040 (Aiming for the 'Uniqlo of the food industry')
- Active recruitment of overseas staff and support for career formation in Japan
- Further raising of salary levels (Industry top)