Inside track

What business is it in? The group is involved in restaurants, bars, food take-away and home delivery, and event catering. It will shortly launch its first hotel.

What brands does it operate? Yo! Sushi is where it all began, in 1997, but there's Yo! Below (bars), Yo! To Go (take-away and delivery), Yo! Events and the forthcoming Yotel! (hotels). The company also has branded fashion and food products.

What's its form? Since 1997 the conveyor-belt Yo! Sushi chain has grown to 17 sites in the UK, with franchised restaurants in Dubai and Greece.

Where is its head office and area of operation? Located at 95 Farringdon Street, London EC4, the company's reach is certainly national and it is in the first stages of going global.

What sort of employer is it? Yo! Sushi claims it looks for people who are young at heart and willing to tackle the sorts of challenges others let pass them by. The company says it pays above-average rates and offers a bonus scheme to managers and chefs. Check out the website at www.yosushi.co.uk for more information, or call 020 7841 0700.

How does the future look? In September 2003 the company's founder, Simon Woodroffe, sold the restaurant business to his management team to raise cash for expansion. He retains a 22% stake in the company and the position of non-executive director. The sale realised £13.5m to drive overseas expansion. Woodroffe hopes to grow the UK business to 25 restaurants in total and aims to find a franchisee in the USA that can take the chain to 100 stores in that territory.

Did you know? Rooms at the Yotel! will be very small, at just 10sq m each. It is hoped that guests will use them as a more affordable option than a late-night taxi home.