From 1962 to 1999
1970～
As the high economic growth of Japan led to an improved standard of living, people's needs for “food” were also on the rise. Skylark was the first and only company in Japan to open its doors as a service provider of “a space where people can enjoy authentic cuisine that is hard to find at home, at an affordable price.
1980～
As the restaurant industry enters a period of growth, we have expanded our business based on our past performance and experience. This was a time when Jonathan’s, Aiya, Bamiyan, and others were gradually consolidating the brand groundwork for later exponential growth.
1990～
Although our company was growing along with the steadily rising Japanese economy, the collapse of the bubble economy was followed by a recession, which was an ordeal. Gusto was born out of this ordeal and grew into a major strategic brand for the revitalization of Skylark.
| April 1962 |
Our predecessor company, Kotobuki Foods Ltd. founded |
| July 1969 |
Restructured from a private limited company to a joint-stock company, Kotobuki Foods Co., Ltd. |
| July 1970 |
First "Skylark" restaurant (Kunitachi store) opened in Fuchu-shi, Tokyo |
| November 1974 |
Trade name changed from Kotobuki Foods Co., Ltd. to Skylark Co., Ltd. |
| December 1977 |
Central Kitchen Higashimatsuyama Factory (currently Higashimatsuyama Merchandising Center) established in Higashimatsuyama-shi, Saitama |
| July 1978 |
Registered as over-the-counter issues with Japan Securities Dealers Association |
| August 1979 |
First "Tomato and Onion" restaurant opened |
| December 1979 |
Kansai Distribution Center in Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo opened |
| April 1980 |
First "Jonathan" restaurant (Nerima Takamatsu store) opened |
| January 1982 |
First Taiwan FC opened as franchise (currently Taiwan Skylark Co., Ltd.) |
| August 1982 |
Listed in the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange |
| November 1983 |
First "Aiya" restaurant (Yono Bypass store) opened |
| June 1984 |
Designated to the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange |
| October 1985 |
Subsidiary Japan Cargo Co., Ltd. founded |
| April 1986 |
First "Bamiyan" restaurant (Tsurukawa store) opens |
| March 1987 |
Kansai Factory (currently Nishinomiya Merchandising Center) established in Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo Prefecture |
| October 1987 |
Subsidiary company managing French cuisine restaurants, FLO Japon Co., Ltd. founded |
| December 1987 |
NILAX Inc. under joint venture with Shin-Nittetsu Group established |
| April 1988 |
Aiya Akishima Fresh Center (currently Akishima Merchandising Center) established in Akishima-shi, Tokyo |
| May 1988 |
Maebashi factory established in Maebashi-shi, Gunma Prefecture |
| May 1991 |
Bamiyan Fujioka factory (currently Fujioka Merchandising Center) established in Fujioka-shi, Gunma Prefecture |
| March 1992 |
First "Gusto" restaurant (Kodaira store) opens |
| May 1992 |
Shisuii factory (currently Shisui Merchandising Center) established in Inbagun, Chiba Prefecture |
| January 1994 |
First "Yumean" restaurant (Shinyurigaoka store) opens |
| March 1994 |
Kanagawa factory (currently Sagamihara Merchandising Center) established in Sagamiharashi, Kanagawa Prefecture |
| April 1998 |
Subsidiary company that manages store maintenance, Japan C&C Co., Ltd. (currently Skylark D&M Co., Ltd.) founded |
| June 1998 |
"Delivery Service" testing started in Gusto Kodaira Megurita restaurant |
| December 1998 |
First "Jyu-Jyu Karubi" restaurant (Itami Horiike store) openeds |
| June 1999 |
First "Totoyamichi" (Nerima Kasugacho store) opens |
From 2000 to 2019
2000～
A “company system” was introduced to strengthen the organizational foundation. As each company expands for further growth, Gusto has opened restaurants in all prefectures of Japan, becoming the first company in the world to open 1,000 directly managed restaurants.
2006～
During this period, while sales grew due to the expansion of the number of stores, Skylark was struggling to secure profits. In the midst of the sluggish performance, the company announced the delisting of its shares through an MBO. Under the leadership of Tani, who was newly appointed president, the company was forced to make major decisions to ensure its survival, including closing approximately 400 stores and changing the business format of approximately 500 stores over a three-year period.
2011～
Eight years after the MBO, Skylark achieved a V-shaped recovery and was re-listed in 2014 to start anew. As customers' needs became more diverse, we developed many highly specialized brands and implemented strategies to enhance the value of each brand. In addition, amidst the frequent occurrence of natural disasters, we will never forget our corporate stance of staying close to our local customers at all times.
| January 2001 |
First "S Gusto"(Akasaka store) opens |
| March 2001 |
First "Grazie Gardens"(Omiya Owada store) opens |
| May 2001 |
Gifu factory (currently Gifu Merchandising Center) established in Kanigun, Gifu Prefecture |
| November 2001 |
Kitakyushu factory (currently Kitakyushu Merchandising Center) established in Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture |
| December 2001 |
First "Gusto" restaurant opens in Okinawa (Gusto Naha Shintoshin store). The group succeeded in opening restaurants in all 47 prefectures in Japan |
| April 2003 |
NILAX Inc. made into wholly owned subsidiary |
| May 2003 |
Sendai factory (currently Sendai Merchandising Center) established in Kurokawagun, Miyagi Prefecture |
| November 2003 |
"Gusto" restaurant opens its 1,000th store in Teramachi, Hachioji, Tokyo |
| March 2006 |
Tomato and Associates Co., Ltd. became a subsidiary |
| June 2006 |
Takeover bid (MBO) for Skylark Co., Ltd. announced |
| September 2006 |
Skylark delisted from the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange |
| May 2007 |
First "Syabu-Yo"(Yokohama store) opens |
| August 2008 |
Makoto Tani appointed President & Chief Executive Officer |
| October 2009 |
"Skylark" brand restaurants completely closed (Last restaurant to close: Kawaguchi Shingo store) |
| March 2010 |
First "Steak Gusto"(Yamato store) opens |
| October 2014 |
Skylark listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange |
| March 2015 |
First "Musashino Mori Coffee"(Mutsukawa store) opens |
| April 2015 |
First "Miwami"restaurant (LaLaPort Fujimi store) opens |
| April 2015 |
First "chawan" restaurant opens in LaLaPort Tokyo Bay |
| May 2015 |
First "Syabu-Yo" restaurant opens in Taiwan |
| September 2015 |
First "Yumean Shokudo" restaurant (Chofu store) opens |
| January 2016 |
Shifted to Holding Company system |
| June 2016 |
First "Tonkaratei" restaurant (Souka Yanagishima store) opens |
| August 2016 |
First "Katsukyu" restaurant (Yamato Tsuruma store) opens |
| June 2017 |
First "La Ohana" restaurant (Yokohama Honmoku store) opens |
| October 2017 |
First "Karayoshi" restaurant (Saitama Saido store) opens |
| July 2018 |
Company name changed from Skylark Co., Ltd. to SKYLARK HOLDINGS CO., LTD. |
| July 2019 |
Stopped providing disposable plastic straws at all group restaurants |
| September 2019 |
All group restaurant premises became non-smoking |
From 2020 to 2022
2020～
Fifty years have passed since the birth of the first Skylark restaurant. In order to remain a company that is needed even under circumstances where lifestyles have changed due to the COVID-19, we are promoting new service reforms through DX, store development that responds to new markets, and ESG initiatives.
| February 2020 |
Materials for take-out and delivery cutlery changed from petroleum-based plastic to biomass plastic |
| March 2020 |
Installation of digital menu books starts |
| July 2020 |
24-hour store operations at all stores ended as a part of Work Style Reform |
| August 2020 |
First shabu-shabu restaurant "SHABU-YO” opens in Malaysia. |
| November 2020 |
EC business (Rakuten and Amazon) starts |
| December 2020 |
Group Sustainability Committee established |
| June 2021 |
Raised approximately 43 billion yen through a public offering of new shares |
| September 2021 |
First shabu-shabu buffet restaurant "SHABU-YOU” opens in the U.S. |
| October 2021 |
Floor service robots installed in more than 1,000 "Gusto" and "Syabu-Yo" restaurants |
| January 2022 |
Materials for take-out and delivery cutlery changed from biomass plastic to wood
Biomass plastic straws replaced with paper straws |
| April 2022 |
Moved from the First Section to the Prime Market due to the revision of the market classification of the Tokyo Stock Exchange |
| December 2022 |
Completed installation of 3,000 floor service robots in approximately 2,100 stores |
| January 2023 |
First "Hachiro Soba" restaurant (Shiraoka store) opens |
| February 2023 |
First "Tohsai", a dim sum specialty restaurant (Tsurukawa store) opens |
| March 2023 |
Transitioned to a new management structure to further strengthen and enhance management strategy and execution (Chairman: Tani, President: Kanaya) |