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Happi House Famous California Teriyaki

www.happihouse.com Happi House Headquarters: San Jose, Calif. Employees: 100 Specialty: Quick Service Chicken Teriyaki and Chicken Franchise Opportunity Joshua V. Richman, CEO: “Happi House is established and proven but new and excitingly different.”

INCLUDES EXCERPTS FROM FOOD & DRINK MAGAZINE, SUMMER 2009

Many ‘Happi’ Returns: Happi House Teriyaki Chicken Franchise System

California’s Happi House is confident that its unique and authentic quick-serve Japanese food will become a big hit outside of the San Francisco Bay Area. By Chris Petersen

When most people think of quick-service restaurants, they’ll probably think of burgers or tacos before they think of teriyaki chicken. However, Bay Area-based Happi House is determined to change that. Already a success in Northern California with its California-style teriyaki recipes based on authentic Japanese dishes, Happi House is ready to bring its modern Asian bistro concept to the rest of the country. Company CEO, Joshua V. Richman says the company is ready to show the rest of America why it has such a devoted following in the Bay Area.

“Happi House has a terrifically loyal clientele because the founder, Joe Ikeda, developed delicious Japanese family recipes for the fast-serve concept,” Richman says. The company’s first location opened in San Jose, Calif.’s Japantown neighborhood in 1976, and was named for the traditional happi coat garment worn during Japanese festivals and celebrations. The company says Ikeda and his partners pioneered the concept of serving fresh California style teriyaki, tempura, noodles and rice bowls in a fast-serve concept.

The key to Happi House’s popularity over the years has been the combination of some top-secret cooking techniques, the chain calls ‘teriyaki infusion’ and the recipes created by Ikeda, Richman says. “That mouthwatering teriyaki flavor permeates through all of our menu and gives us a unique taste that we say after you’ve tasted it just once, you’re hooked,” he says.

The cornerstone of the Happi House style is its very popular teriyaki sauce created by Ikeda, which Richman says is much closer to the traditional Japanese style than most sauces found in American grocery stores. Every year the chain fills thousands of orders for the sauce, which is available at each location and shipped throughout the world from the company’s website, HappiHouse.com. Also, Richman says the company’s Asian chicken salad, made with a special sesame dressing, is so popular that some customers don’t order anything else. “Many people buy it by the quart and take it home,” he says.

Fast, Fresh & Original

Richman says Happi House is able to bring fresh, authentic Japanese cooking to the quick-service market by streamlining its cooking process. Additionally, it avoids complicated items such as sushi that require a lot of prep time and stick with proven recipes that can be portioned in advance and prepared to order. “Because our menu is completely fresh, we’re a lot better and tastier than most quick-serve restaurants,” Richman says.

Alongside its famous original bone-in teriyaki chicken, Happi House also serves teriyaki beef, pork, tempura fried shrimp & vegetables, salads and even grilled salmon. The emphasis on serving fresh ingredients means the company has to maintain good, strong relationships with its suppliers and vendors, but Richman says it has gone above and beyond that to ensure the freshness of its food. “There have been times where we have had to go and source items at local farmer’s markets,” he says. Fortunately, being located in California means that it’s not difficult for the company to maintain uninterrupted supply lines of premium meats and produce.

Changing Tastes

Happi House has benefited from being part of one of the fastest growing segments in the QSR marketplace and has enjoyed positive sales trends as Americans seek more unique and healthier fast-food options. Although Happi House insists on serving a variety of quality meals and the freshest ingredients possible, Richman says the company still has to focus on being competitive with chains that cut corners to lower their prices. “The biggest challenge we have in today’s environment is maintaining a value structure,” he says. “To maintain a price point that associates well with a quick-service restaurant is an ongoing endeavor, but in the end, our quality and flavor is an unmistakable value.”

This is especially true given the current state of the economy and the pinch it puts on the average person’s wallet. To bring more value to the Happi House menu, the company has revised its offerings. Richman says Happi House has added more small dishes and appetizers, such as Firecracker Hot Wings, fried zucchini and crispy tempura wraps. The company is also creating value by allowing customers to substitute items in combo meals and adding more variety in hot & cold teas and other beverage selections.

These recent menu changes also address another recent trend Richman says the company has noted. “We are certainly seeing a trend for people who are snacking,” Richman says. “Some people will come in and order just one piece of chicken.” Business is steadier outside of the traditional meal rush hours, and Happi House has responded by opening earlier for commuters in addition to more snack-sized menu items.

Branching Out

Although being a new offering in the franchise industry, the potential for Happi House’s growth is promising, with the company receiving numerous inquires from across California and beyond. The company is currently in talks with several developers to open franchises as far away as Hawaii, he adds.

Happi House spent a good deal of time making sure its franchising program was just right, Richman says, by hiring experienced professionals to administrate a top-notch franchise program that focuses on developing successful franchisees. He says that supporting Happi House franchisees is one of the company’s utmost priorities, and once the company begins expanding outside of the Bay Area, Happi House should become a much larger presence in the quick-serve market.

“The future for Happi House looks very bright,” Richman says. “We’re excited to be an established, successful, and proven brand, yet new and different in the franchise world.”

For more information on Happi House Franchise Opportunities, visit HappiHouse.com or call toll free:

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