The Sushi Co launched its first shared outlet with Smashio in Basildon, Essex on November 1st.
Located on East Square Walk, the new restaurant employs 25 staff and seats up to 70 diners. It will also provide takeaway and delivery services for both brands.
The 3,000-square-foot site is close to the Eastgate Shopping Centre.
Co-founder of The Sushi Co, Raheel Choudhary, explains: “Our fabulous new live sushi kitchen has been designed as a destination venue for Basildon.
Our minutes fresh sushi rolled to perfection, our delicious hot food, plus a new range of sandwiches and also premium Smashio burgers all now available at the same site, means there is something for everyone to enjoy.
For the grand opening, we will be giving away 200 rolls of sushi and plenty of burgers so would love everyone to come down and join us on our opening day for a truly unforgettable taste experience.”
The branch will be run by franchisee Saikumar Nunna (pictured above) and his newly hired team.
Saikumar explains: “I’m now super excited to bring The Sushi Co to Basildon. Smashio is owned by some of the same management team as The Sushi Co, so it made sense to create a single outlet, where the space is shared. Team members have been trained so they can move between brands to look after customers depending on demand.
Bringing two quite different concepts together under one roof means we have every chance to offer more choice and to grow our customer base. We are now looking forward to welcoming the community as we invite everyone to try our fresh, quality, expertly prepared food with friends and family.”
Despite the demands of running a rapidly expanding company, Choudhary has learned to find balance, something he didn’t always have. These days, he’s an early riser, front-loading his weekdays with office work before spending afternoons on-site visits and store builds.
Evenings are reserved for football and gym sessions, and weekends are kept for family. “Sunday lunch at my mum’s house—that’s the recharge,” he says with a smile.
Among his proudest milestones is winning an international franchise of the year award earlier in his career, besting competitors across 30 markets, but he’s just as proud of The Sushi Co’s present trajectory. He said: “It’s been incredible to watch it grow. And we’re only getting started.”
When asked what advice he’d give his younger self, Choudhary was quick to reply: “Learn to walk before you run. There are no shortcuts. Move with care, build the right team, and think everything through.”
For prospective franchisees eyeing entry into the booming sushi space, The Sushi Co is currently welcoming applications.
Choudhary says: “We’re looking for experienced QSR and business professionals ready to invest in a proven, fast-growing concept. This is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the casual dining market, and we’re here to lead it.”
As The Sushi Co expands across the UK, Choudhary is showing that scale doesn’t have to mean compromise. With handcrafted sushi at its core and a franchise model built on training, quality, and support, he’s not just growing a brand, he’s setting a new standard for what fast-casual dining can deliver.
