PROJECT #7
Redefining Japanese Food!
Innovative Japanese Market Food Restaurant Concept
Katako Sushi Bar was a market stand restaurant startup side project that aimed to redefine Japanese food by offering innovative and unique dishes. Located in a bustling market in the city center, we provided customers with a wide range of Japanese culinary delights, including sushi rolls, poke bowls, ramen soups, baos, and more. Our concept allowed customers to customize their poke bowls with a variety of ingredients, creating the perfect combination to suit their taste.
The Location
Katako Sushi Bar had a modern ambiance that resembled a Japanese market stand but with a fresh and innovative design. The interior design incorporated vertical lines, reflecting the brand’s image and essence.
The Food
We prioritized serving only the freshest ingredients. By forging strategic partnerships with top fish and vegetable distributors, we ensured that our customers enjoyed high-quality products. To provide affordable options, we implemented a self-service operations model and optimized costs without compromising on quality.
The Brand
As the branding expert, one of my responsibilities was to create the brand, logo, and image of Katako Sushi Bar. After numerous meetings and weeks of conceptualization, we designed a brand and logo that captured the essence of the restaurant: an innovative place where customers could experience the best Japanese flavors with a unique twist.
The Digital Marketing Ecosystem
As the marketing expert, I spearheaded all marketing and communication strategies for Katako Sushi Bar. Some of my key responsibilities included:
- Developing the restaurant’s digital marketing ecosystem and website using WordPress CMS.
- Managing digital marketing campaigns on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Google to drive traffic and increase online orders.
- Leading the restaurant’s content strategy, which resulted in attracting over 10,000 visitors and 20,000 page views in Q4 of 2020 through active blogging and SEO optimization.
Katako Sushi Bar Social Media Accounts
What Did I Learn and Achieved
- Managed the restaurant’s operations and business model, focusing on optimizing efficiency and resources to increase delivery profitability and reduce costs.
- Developed leadership and management skills by leading a team of three cooks and supervisors.
- Achieved annual revenues of €220,000 in the third year of operation.
- Unfortunately, faced closure during the global COVID-19 pandemic shutdown in 2020.
Katako Sushi Bar aimed to redefine Japanese cuisine by offering innovative and flavorful dishes in a market stand setting. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, we achieved significant milestones and created a memorable dining experience for our customers. The project allowed us to gain valuable experience in managing operations, leading teams, and navigating the complexities of the restaurant industry.
Gabriel Rodriguez 