IRO Sushi Opens First Scottish Store in Glasgow, Expanding to 38 UK Outlets

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – IRO Sushi, the sushi restaurant franchise founded by young Nepali entrepreneur Chhong Norbu Sherpa, has opened its first store in Scotland, marking another milestone in the brand’s UK expansion.

With the opening of its first Scottish outlet, IRO Sushi now has 38 locations across the UK.

The new restaurant is located on Sauchiehall Street, near Glasgow city centre. The official opening took place on Saturday, with founder Chhong Norbu Sherpa attending the ceremony. The franchise is owned and operated locally by Bikash Acharya.

The opening ceremony was attended by Ram Prasad Kandel, President of Glasgow Nepali Community and Vice-President of NRNA UK; Parshuram Bhandari, President of Southside Nepali Community; Scottish entrepreneurs Dev Bahadur KC and Amar Karki; and members of the IRO Sushi head office team.

To celebrate the opening, IRO Sushi offered free sushi to the first 100 customers and a 25 per cent discount throughout the day.

Iro Sushi Founder Chhong Norbu Sherpa

Sherpa said he was delighted to expand the business into Scotland for the first time. He added that the company plans to expand aggressively across Scotland and encouraged interested entrepreneurs to get in touch. The company will prioritise applicants interested in opening multiple outlets, while also offering opportunities to those seeking a single franchise.

Sherpa claimed that investors in the IRO Sushi franchise had not experienced business losses to date.

The company offers two franchise options: partnership-based investment and full ownership. Under the full franchise model, investors are required to pay an initial franchise fee, along with a royalty equivalent to five per cent of turnover.

Local operator Bikash Acharya said he felt fortunate to bring IRO Sushi to Scotland for the first time. He also expressed his commitment to providing the local community with healthy, high-protein food and quality sushi.

IRO Sushi’s best-selling dishes include its salmon selection, chicken katsu curry and chicken gyoza.

Founder Chhong Norbu Sherpa aims to expand the brand to at least 100 outlets worldwide by 2030, covering the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

The company currently serves approximately 1.1 million customers annually across its UK restaurants.

Sherpa arrived in London in 2009 to pursue higher education and began his professional journey as a trainee chef. He opened his first IRO Sushi restaurant in Clapham Junction in 2014 and began expanding the business through a franchise model in 2019.

Born into a modest family in a remote village in Dolakha, Nepal, the 38-year-old entrepreneur credits his success to dedication, honesty and hard work.