As of the issuance date of the disclosure document, how many open and operating Benihana restaurants are franchised to unaffiliated parties in the United States?

According to Benihana's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, as of the issuance date, there were seven open and operating Benihana restaurants in the United States franchised to unaffiliated parties. Additionally, there were four Benihana restaurants franchised to unaffiliated parties in international locations, bringing the total number of franchised locations to eleven.

It's important to note that Benihana also directly owns and operates a significant number of restaurants. Specifically, the document states that Benihana directly and through wholly-owned subsidiaries, owns and operates 69 Benihana restaurants in the United States. This indicates that the majority of Benihana restaurants are company-owned rather than franchised.

Furthermore, Benihana has signed franchise agreements for one additional location in the United States that has not yet opened for business, with an anticipated opening in the current fiscal year. This suggests that Benihana is continuing to expand its franchise network, albeit at a relatively slow pace. Prospective franchisees should consider the balance between company-owned and franchised locations when evaluating the franchise opportunity, as it may impact the level of support and competition they experience.