One of the fastest growing burger franchises in the United States is starting expansion into Asia with a restaurant opening in Omotesando, Japan. Wayback Burgers Japan plans to open 60 restaurants over the next 20 years, and also holds development options for India, China, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Koichi Ishizuka, the head of WBBA and NXMH, said: “We are very excited to introduce Wayback Burgers to Japanese customers. Our first location in Omotesando will be the flagship restaurant, not only in Japan but in Asia, where we plan to continue expansion. True to its name, Wayback Burgers means going back in time to when hamburgers were made by hand. Our hamburgers are made with 100% fresh ground beef, which is then pressed and grilled to order. We’re also proud to be able to offer a range of delicious meatless items through our agreement with Next Meats.”
Wayback Burgers also offers a variety of chicken sandwiches, fresh salads and side dishes as well as rich milkshakes made by hand, using only whole milk and hand-dipped ice cream. The Tokyo restaurant, located in the exclusive neighborhood of Omotesando, features a spacious outdoor seating area and offers a premium experience for diners.
Wayback Burgers has been launched through an agreement with WB Burgers Asia, Inc. (WBBA), the publicly traded holding company of WB Burgers Japan Co., Ltd. Thanks to an agreement with Next Meats Co. (NXMH), a Tokyo-based venture dedicated to creating tasty and appealing alternatives to meat products, the Wayback Burgers Omotesando location will include tantalizing and innovative meat-free dishes that vegetarian and vegan customers can enjoy.
Wayback Burgers currently operates in 34 states in the United States with over 166 locations nationally and internationally in Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Manitoba, Canada and Ireland. Through its executed international franchise agreements, Wayback Burgers plans to open in 38 provinces/countries, including the Middle East, Northern Africa, South Africa, Bangladesh, Ireland, Japan, Germany and Canada. It also boasts one of the fastest growth rates among hamburger franchises in the United States, reporting overall sales up by 26% year-on-year in 2021, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
