The president of the management company of "Kappa Sushi" was arrested on suspicion of illegally taking out trade secrets such as the cost of products from "Hama Sushi", where he worked before. An interview with a former executive revealed that they were working to improve the cost rate of their products, positioning Hamazushi, which has overlapping price ranges, as an important rival.
The data taken out is directly linked to the company's revenue, and the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating it as an attempt to use it for management.
Kimi Tanabe, 46, president of Kappa Create Co., Ltd., which operates Kappa Sushi, said that from September to December the year before and after he changed jobs from the parent company of rival chain Hamazushi. was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, including illegally taking out trade secrets such as the cost of the product.
The data brought out was a summary of the cost of the ingredients used for the standard products of "Hama Sushi" and the products under consideration, as well as the business partners and transaction prices.
At that time, the company was working to improve the cost rate of its products by positioning Hamazushi, which had overlapping store areas and price ranges, as an important rival, and the management company of "Kappa Sushi" I learned something new from an interview with an executive.
The information brought out can be used for selecting suppliers and negotiating prices, which are directly linked to the company's profits. I think he wanted the know-how so much that his hands would fall out of his throat."
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating that President Tanabe took out the data to use it for the management of his new job amid intensifying competition in the conveyor belt sushi industry.