Following a pre-Christmas announcement that 16 Okami restaurants – including one in Sunbury – face an uncertain future, the company has confirmed the local store will continue trading as normal.
An Okami company spokesperson tells SunburyLife that “…the Sunbury branch in Evans St will continue trading as normal for the foreseeable future”.
“While it’s true that we’ve encountered difficulties, it’s crucial to clarify that Sunbury [will] remain open and there is no plan to close the store,” says the spokesperson.
The spokesperson says recent news about voluntary administration may have caused confusion, but the firm wants to assure readers that its decision is part of a strategic approach to navigate through “these challenging times effectively”.
“Despite the impact of the pandemic, we have absorbed increasing costs to maintain a consistent and exceptional experience for our customers,” says the Okami spokesperson.
“We are dedicated to overcoming these challenges while upholding our standards of excellence.
“With the continued support and patronage of our customers, we are not just surviving; we are thriving. Our business is open, operational, and more vibrant than ever.
“We are enthusiastic about the positive direction we are heading and eagerly anticipate continued support from our valued customers.”
The Sunbury branch of the Okami chain opened in late 2019, has was put into voluntary administration by its owners Okami Distribution.
A spokesperson for the administrators Grant Thornton says it has an agreement with Okami to continue trading the businesses during the voluntary administration period – the restaurants will open during Christmas as normal.
The company says this will preserve the value of the business and provide an opportunity to consider a restructuring of the business.
