MASHINIi

Kura Sushi USA, Inc..

KRUS.US | Restaurants and mobile food service activities

Kura Sushi USA, Inc. operates as a technology-enabled Japanese restaurant concept in the United States. The company primarily focuses on providing an engaging dining experience through its revolving sushi service platform. It offers a variety of Japanese dishes, including sushi, ramen, tempura, and ...Show More

Ethical Profile

Mixed.

Kura Sushi USA presents a mixed ethical profile. Reports suggest the company was linked to a food poisoning outbreak in Taiwan affecting 23 people, leading to temporary branch closures. Employee reviews average 2.9/5, with pay and benefits at 2.5/5, and prep cooks allegedly earning $13/hr, alongside mentions of inconsistent scheduling. Conversely, Kura Sushi shows strong environmental commitment. They source 100% MSC-certified tuna, 85% Monterey Bay salmon, and 75% BAP shrimp. Waste reduction efforts include 65% fewer takeout containers, eliminated single-use straws, and 60% food waste diversion. LED lighting is used across all locations; 90% of cooking oil is converted to biodiesel. Critics note a lack of public carbon emission targets.

Value Scores

Better Health for All-60
-100100
Fair Money & Economic Opportunity0
-100100
Fair Pay & Worker Respect0
-100100
Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing0
-100100
Honest & Fair Business-20
-100100
Kind to Animals0
-100100
No War, No Weapons0
-100100
Planet-Friendly Business0
-100100
Respect for Cultures & Communities0
-100100
Safe & Smart Tech0
-100100
Zero Waste & Sustainable Products-50
-100100

Better Health for All

-60

Kura Sushi USA, Inc. experienced 10 reports of food poisoning affecting 23 people, with 3 individuals testing positive for norovirus.

1
This led to the temporary closure of two branches and improvement orders for 21 other branches by the FDA in April 2024.
2
Food samples from the affected branches tested negative for contamination, with other samples still undergoing testing.
3
The company faces potential fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$200 million.
4

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

0

No evidence available to assess Kura Sushi USA, Inc. on Fair Money & Economic Opportunity.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

0

The company's employee rating is 3.3 out of 5 stars (66%) based on 346 Glassdoor reviews.

1
There are no specific regulatory actions, violations, fines, or compliance issues mentioned across the provided articles.
2

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

0

No evidence available to assess Kura Sushi USA, Inc. on Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing.

Honest & Fair Business

-20

The company has a comprehensive whistleblower policy, including a 24-hour ethics hotline for anonymous reporting and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that prohibits retaliation against employees for raising concerns.

1
The Audit Committee administers procedures for receiving and treating complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters.
2
The company has had zero financial restatements in the past five years, with annual reports and proxies available from 2021 to 2025.
3
The company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics explicitly mentions compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and prohibits giving or receiving bribes, kickbacks, or other inducements.
4
Directors and employees must annually affirm compliance with the Code.
5

Kind to Animals

0

No specific, concrete data points were found in the provided articles to score any of the KPIs related to the 'Kind to Animals' value. While some articles mention sustainability initiatives and organic certifications for seafood, these do not directly map to the quantitative thresholds or specific definitions of the KPIs in the rubric, such as cruelty-free certification percentages, humane certifications for operations, measurable wildlife conservation impact, ethical input substitution, supplier audit percentages, cage-free sourcing, animal testing policies or volumes, or innovation investment in animal-free alternatives.

No War, No Weapons

0

No specific evidence was found in the provided articles regarding Kura Sushi USA, Inc.'s involvement in arms manufacturing, military contracts, or conflict facilitation. The articles primarily discuss the company's sustainability initiatives (ecopon capsules) and corporate governance structure, or they refer to other companies' policies on conflict minerals. Therefore, no KPIs related to the 'No War, No Weapons' value can be scored for KRUS.US based on the given information.

Planet-Friendly Business

0

Kura Sushi USA, Inc. does not publicly report its carbon emissions or reduction targets, and no data is available for related metrics.

1
The company has implemented energy efficiency measures, including LED lighting in 100% of locations, ENERGY STAR certified equipment, and smart temperature control in HVAC systems, which are reported to result in energy savings.
2
Kura Sushi introduced ecopon, a plastic-free, biodegradable, and recyclable paper capsule for its Bikkura Pon prizes, which is reported to emit one-third less carbon dioxide than conventional capsules.
3
Additionally, the company plans to transition to paper straws nationwide by October 1, 2024, across its more than 60 locations.
4
The company diverts 60% of food waste through composting, recycles 75% of packaging waste, and converts 90% of cooking oil to biodiesel.
5

Respect for Cultures & Communities

0

No specific, quantitative data relevant to the 'Respect for Cultures & Communities' value was found across the provided articles. The articles primarily focus on employment opportunities, employee reviews, and job postings, explicitly stating the absence of information regarding formal partnerships, community reinvestment, cultural appropriation incidents, cultural impact assessments, local employment, grievance mechanisms, or any other metrics related to cultural and community engagement.

1

Safe & Smart Tech

0

Kura Sushi USA's privacy policy states that users can unsubscribe from marketing emails, text messages, and app notifications, and manage certain data permissions through device settings.

1
The policy also mentions collecting only necessary data, and states compliance with CCPA and other relevant laws.
2
No specific details on data retention periods, compliance audits, or the effectiveness of these measures are provided.
3

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

-50

Kura Sushi USA has implemented several waste reduction initiatives, including transitioning from plastic to PFAS-free paper straws in all U.S. locations as of October 1, 2024.

1
The company also introduced ecopon capsules made from starch and paper pulp for its Bikkura Pon prizes, which reduce carbon dioxide emissions by one-third compared to conventional polypropylene and are repurposed as raw materials.
2
The ecopon capsules demonstrate circular design principles by being repurposed as raw materials. The company's use of PFAS-free paper straws indicates efforts in hazardous waste management.

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AI-generated analysis based on publicly available data. Not financial advice. Ratings are expressions of opinion derived from automated models and may contain inaccuracies. See our Risk Disclosure for full details.