Yoshinoya gears up for U.S. growth with staff changesYoshinoya gears up for U.S. growth with staff changes

TORRANCE Calif. Yoshinoya, a Japanese quick-service chain with 86 locations in the United States, has promoted Oliver Cortes to president and chief executive of Yoshinoya Franchise of North America Inc. as part of a U.S. expansion push.

As part of the drive, the parent company also announced that it has hired Subway veteran Scott Hobert as vice president of franchise development, and that franchising deals have already been signed for Arizona and Nevada.

Cortes was previously senior vice president of Yoshinoya America Inc., with responsibility for the development, construction and marketing of the chain’s U.S. outlets.

The chain operates more than 1,300 locations worldwide, with the stores concentrated in Asia. The chain's U.S. operations are based here.