Fukuoka-based ramen chain Ichiran signed an agreement with Itoshima City to build a build a food processing factory there. The company plans to break ground in August and bring the new facility online by next February. The new plant would boost ramen production sixfold to 70,000 bowls per day, thus supporting the chain’s expansion. Once the new plant is open, Ichiran will close two existing plants in Higashi-ku. The company plans to build a two-story factory with a floor area of 5,000 m2 on the 93,000 m2 site at an estimated cost of ¥2.12 billion. Part of the factory will be open to public tours, and Ichiran is also considering a putting a 24-hour ramen shop on site. Ichiran operates 42 ramen shops in Japan and one in New York and is scheduled to open a new shop in Hong Kong this summer. The company’s expansion plan calls for 100 shops and ¥30 billion in sales by 2023. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, Apr. 26
