Thursday February 27 @ 1PM Central

Kura Sushi: Recruiting and Retaining Staff to Support Aggressive Growth Goals

Lessons from the Field Series: Learning How Top Performers Do It

Kura Sushi originally started in Japan before rapidly expanding to 70 units in the US with imminent plans to open a further 12 locations (it has around 650 units globally). The brand needs a robust recruitment strategy to support these broader objectives.

Join this session to learn how Kura Sushi:

  • Recruits at scale, and particularly how it onboards when entering new markets.

  • Monitors and minimizes turnover, and specifically its approach to learning and development.

  • Fosters a strong partnership between HR and operators to ensure these initiatives are effective.

Street view of Kura Sushi, a revolving sushi bar with a modern exterior featuring large glass windows and entrance. The building is surrounded by a clean sidewalk and minimal landscaping, set in a contemporary urban area. A plate of sushi with various toppings sits on a conveyor belt at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar. Above, the Kura logo and text read, "Kura Revolving Sushi Bar," with stylized Japanese characters in the design.

Panelist

Arlene Estrada Petokas

Chief People Officer at Kura Sushi USA

Arlene Estrada Petokas is a restaurant industry and human resources veteran that has served in various roles. As Kura’s Chief People Officer is responsible for developing and executing people strategies that support the company’s operational goals and helps drive performance within the organization.

Image of Arlene Petokas Smiling woman with shoulder-length black hair, wearing a sleeveless black top with a ruffled collar. She's standing outdoors against a stone wall, wearing small earrings and a necklace with a reddish pendant. Background is softly blurred.