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Hissho Sushi Beer Bar

Category: Awards & Recognitions

Hissho Sushi CFO, Matt Wilken, Named One of the Charlotte Business Journal’s 2020 CFO’s of the Year

 

Article Originally Published in the Charlotte Business Journal, click here to read the original article.

 

WINNER: Emerging Leader

Current job: CFO, Hissho Sushi

Brief description of business: Franchisor of sushi restaurants within grocery stores, college campuses, airports and corporate offices.

Your responsibilities: I lead finance, accounting, supply chain and M&A.

Year started at company: 2018

Number of employees: More than 80 local; more than 250 total

Unique challenge of the past year: 

Like everyone, the pandemic has been a challenge for our business; however, we were able to come together as a team to drive cost savings as well as generate creative promotional programs to improve sales results. While our business is not fully back to pre-pandemic sales in all channels, we are pleased with where we are today.

 

Advice to an aspiring CFO: 

Take time to understand the underlying drivers of financial performance at your company so you can explain what the company needs to do to improve performance. A good finance leader does not just report news (i.e. make sure the numbers are correct and accurate); they impact future performance by helping educate others about changes they can make to help improve results and drive better returns.

 

Who or what made you successful?

I think having a blend of finance, strategy and business experience in my past roles has helped set me up for success. I tried to look for opportunities to take on a new challenge or move into a new area of the business because it helped me gain new experiences that increased my knowledge base or allowed me to develop a new skillset. This also enables me to look at key decisions from both the business side and the finance side so I can provide a balanced opinion to our team.

 

Hissho Sushi CEO Named Among 2020 Class of Most Admired CEOs

Article Originally Published on Charlotte Business Journal, click here to read the original by Jen Wilson

The ever-growing Charlotte region is home to an increasing number of businesses, large and small, that span a variety of industries. Each is led by a chief executive who navigates challenges — both specific to their company’s particular sector and more general issues that apply across the board — and shares successes with their teams.

The Charlotte Business Journal‘s Most Admired CEO Awards program, now in its third year, turns a spotlight on these local leaders.


Charlotte Business Journal 2020 Most Admired CEO Award

This signature awards program honors Charlotte-area chief executives or those with an equivalent title, such as managing principal or executive director, who demonstrate admirable leadership qualities. Nominations were open to the public and came from members of the business community, within the honorees’ organizations and externally.

The CBJ editorial team has selected 35 honorees across 18 categories.

Each has shown a strong record of innovation in their field, outstanding financial performance, a commitment to quality, a strong vision, a commitment to diversity in the workplace and contributions to the metro community. In an upcoming special report, CBJ will profile all of the honorees; see coverage of past years’ programs here.

In addition, a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will be named in the weeks to come.

An event will be held March 25 at The Westin Charlotte to celebrate this year’s class of winners. Find more details and register here




Congratulations to the 2020 class!

These are honorees, listed in alphabetical order by category:


Banks & Credit Unions

  • Steve Fisher, F&M Bank
  • Lee Fite, Fifth Third Bank

Commercial Real Estate

  • Brett Gray, Cushman & Wakefield
  • Johnny Harris, Lincoln Harris

Construction

  • Brian McManus, Hoopaugh Grading Co.
  • Marcus Rabun, Myers & Chapman

Energy

  • Jayson Waller, PowerHome Solar

Family-Owned Business

  • Liz Etheredge, Mecklenburg Paint Co. Inc.
  • Marcus Smith, Speedway Motorsports
  • Ed Weisiger Jr., CTE (formerly Carolina Tractor & Equipment Co.)

Financial Services

  • Tom Finke, Barings
  • Matt Potere, Sunlight Financial
Hissho Sushi CEO, Dan Beem

Food Service

  • Dan Beem, Hissho Sushi
  • Landon Eckles, Clean Juice
  • Conrad Hunter, Foxcroft Wine Co.


Government

  • Dena Diorio, Mecklenburg County

Health Care

  • Lindsay Muns, Charlotte Radiology
  • Stuart Ross, ACO Med Supply

Law

  • Janeen Hogue, The Miller-Hogue Law Firm
  • Christopher Lam, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings

Manufacturing 

  • John Marrino, The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Nonprofits

  • Karen Calder, Classroom Central
  • Williams Jones, Thompson Child & Family Focus

Professional Services

  • Tana Greene, MyWorkChoice (a Greene Group company)
  • Amy Noland Pack, AccruePartners

Public Companies

  • Darius Adamczyk, Honeywell International Inc.
  • Charles Harrington, Parsons Corp.

Residential Real Estate

  • Pat Riley, Allen Tate Cos.
  • Marcie Williams, RKW Residential

Retail

  • Tom Coker, Reid’s Fine Foods
  • Charlie Malouf, Broad River Retail

Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

  • Dan Rajkowski, Charlotte Knights
  • Fred Whitfield, Hornets Sports & Entertainment

Technology

  • Mark Mahoney, Jackrabbit Technologies
  • Bob Youakim, Passport

Hissho Sushi Named as one of CBJ's 2016 Fast 50

fast50

CHARLOTTE, NC – For the 1st time, Hissho Sushi has been named a winner in the Charlotte Business Journal’s 2016 FAST 50.  Congratulations to Philip Maung and the Hissho team.
The Charlotte Business Journal has just recognized the 2016 fastest-growing private companies in our region. This awards program recognizes 50 local companies with outstanding growth, entrepreneurial excellence and leadership.

During the awards dinner posted for Thursday, December 8, 2016 from 5:30pm –8:30pm at the Hilton Charlotte Center City, 222 East Third Street Charlotte NC, 28202, CBJ will reveal the 2016 honoree company rankings based on their percentage of annual growth over a three-year period. The top-ranked companies will also be profiled in a CBJ special report on December 9.

 
Hissho Sushi, headquartered in Charlotte NC, is a thriving sushi and Pan-Asian hot bar franchise which now has over 900 locations in 40 states.  Philip Maung, the CEO, came to the United States from Myanmar in 1989 with only $13 in his pocket, and started his sushi business in 1998.
For more information, http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/event/140262/2016/2016-fast-50-awards, www.hisshosushi.com, or contact Andrea Lee at 704-926-3989 or andrealee@40.87.96.138

Hissho Sushi Named to 2016 Grant Thornton North Carolina 100®

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Hissho Sushi has once again been recognized as part of the 2016 Grant Thornton North Carolina 100® (NC100), which ranks the state’s largest private companies by revenue.  The complete list was released in the October issue of Business North Carolina and can be viewed at GrantThornton.com/NC100.
 
“We are honored to be included on this year’s Grant Thornton North Carolina 100® list,” said Philip Maung, CEO. “This award reaffirms our prominence in the marketplace and our commitment to the community.  We are proud to be recognized as one of the largest privately-held businesses in North Carolina.”
 
Hissho Sushi, headquartered in Charlotte NC, is a thriving sushi and Pan-Asian hot bar franchise which now has over 900 locations in 40 states.  Philip Maung, the CEO, came to the United States from Myanmar in 1989 with only $13 in his pocket, and started his sushi business in 1998.
Since 1984, the NC100 has ranked the state’s largest private companies by revenue in the mot recent fiscal year, based on data provided by the participants.
To view the complete 2016 list, visit GrantThorton.com/NC100
For more information on Hissho, visit  www.hisshosushi.com, or contact Andrea Lee at 704-926-3989 / and/ andrealee@40.87.96.138
About Grant Thornton North Carolina 100®
Since 1984, the Grant Thornton North Carolina 100® has ranked the state’s largest private companies by revenue in the most recent fiscal year, based on data provided by the participants. The NC100 is a voluntary list restricted to companies based in North Carolina that do not have publicly traded stock. Companies owned by private equity are permitted. Nonprofits, financial-services companies, health care providers such as hospitals and subsidiaries of corporations are excluded. For more details, visit GrantThornton.com/NC100.
 
About Grant Thornton LLP
Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the world’s leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. In the United States, Grant Thornton has revenues of $1.65 billion and operates 60 offices with 575 partners and more than 8,000 employees. Grant Thornton works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations.
 
“Grant Thornton” refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one another’s acts or omissions. Please see grantthornton.com for further details.

Hissho Sushi Named Among FAST 40

2016 N.C. Mid-Market Fast 40 Winners Announced 
By Ben Kinney Publisher of Business NC Magazine
Posted September 21, 2016
FAST 40
Hissho was among forty North Carolina companies honored on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, at Pinehurst Resort for being named to the 2016 Mid-Market Fast 40 list. Created by accounting firm Cherry Bekaert LLP and Business North Carolina magazine, the list ranks mid-size companies on revenue and employment growth.  Capturing the 11th space, Hissho was honored to be a recipient for the 3rd consecutive year.
Companies who made the list were recognized at the luncheon, which included an awards presentation and a video of a round table discussion with representatives from the top five companies on the list. The ranking, coverage of the round table, and company profiles will be published in a supplement to the November issue of Business North Carolina magazine.
For more than 69 years, Cherry Bekaert LLP has been helping clients take their businesses as far as they want to go. As one of the largest national public accounting firms headquartered in Richmond, Va., Cherry Bekaert’s resource network stretches across the Southeast: Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C. It also extends nationally and internationally through an alliance with Baker Tilly International, an association of independent accounting services and consulting firms. For more information, visit www.cbh.com or contact August P. Keller III, chief marketing and sales officer at 800-849-8281.
Business North Carolina magazine has explored what’s happening in one very special place — North Carolina — for more than 35 years, producing quality, in-depth journalism that digs into the stories behind the news. In addition to the monthly magazine, BNC publishes its annual North Carolina Economic Development Guide and partners on projects with various statewide organizations. For more information, visit BusinessNC.com or contact Ben Kinney, publisher, at 704-927-6273.

Inc. Magazine Unveils 35th Annual List of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies

Inc 5000
CHARLOTTE, NC
 
Hissho Sushi has again been recognized by Inc.5000 as one of the fastest growing privately owned companies in America. 2016 marks the 6th time in 7 years that Hissho has received this honor. This year the Company reached its highest ranking yet, landing at #3077. Additionally, Hissho was ranked #22 for North Carolina companies.
 
Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation’s most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment— its independent small businesses. Companies such as Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees of the Inc. 5000.
 
CEO Philip Maung says, “As the market evolves, so does Hissho. Consumers constantly demand something new and we strive to give them what they want. We’re always looking for ways in which to innovate whether it’s through new products, different channels of distribution or the use of social media.”
 
The 2016 Inc. 5000, unveiled online at Inc.com and with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc. (available on newsstands August 23) is the most competitive crop in the list’s history. The average company on the list achieved a mind-boggling three-year growth of 433%. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue is $200 billion, and the companies on the list collectively generated 640,000 jobs over the past three years, or about 8% of all jobs created in the entire economy during that period. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.
 
“The Inc. 5000 list stands out where it really counts,” says Inc. President and Editor-In-Chief Eric Schurenberg. “It honors real achievement by a founder or a team of them. No one makes the Inc. 5000 without building something great – usually from scratch. That’s one of the hardest things to do in business, as every company founder knows. But without it, free enterprise fails.”’
Inc5000 #3077
Methodology
The 2016 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2012 to 2015. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2012. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2015. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2012 is $100,000; the minimum for 2015 is $2 million.
Hissho Sushi, headquartered in Charlotte NC, is a thriving sushi franchise which now has over 900 locations in 39 states. Philip Maung, the CEO, came to the United States from Myanmar in 1989 with only $13 in his pocket, and started his sushi business in 1998.
For more information, please see www.hisshosushi.com, or contact Andrea Lee @ 704-926-3989 / andrealee@40.87.96.138

Hissho Honored as a 2016 Future 50 Award Winner

Future 50 2016 Press Release Future 50 2016 Press Release 2
Hissho Sushi is the proud recipient of a Smart CEO Future 50 Award for 2016. The honor was presented to the company at a Rock & Roll themed ceremony at the Hilton Center City hotel (Charlotte, NC) on Thursday, April 21, 2016.
SmartCEO recognizes 50 of the region’s fastest growing, mid-sized companies. Winners in large “Blue Chip” and small “Emerging Growth” categories were also announced. These companies represent the future of the region’s economy and embody the entrepreneurial spirit critical for leadership and success. The winners were chosen based on a three-year average of employee and revenue growth.
This collective has had a significant impact on their community. Combined revenue of the Charlotte Future 50 is $1.5 billion. The average tenure for business is 13 years and they provide employment opportunities for almost 11,000 people.
In 2016, SmartCEO will honor Future 50 Winners in the following markets: Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Long Island, New Jersey, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC.  To learn more go to www.smartceo.com
Hissho Sushi, headquartered in Charlotte NC, is a thriving sushi and Pan-Asian franchise business which operates in more than 875 locations in 39 states plus the District of Columbia.  Philip Maung, the CEO, came to the United States from Myanmar in 1989 with only $13 in his pocket, and started his sushi business in 1998.

Hissho Named as a Fast 100 Asian American Business

Fast 100 Asian American Business Winner
US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce has named Hissho Sushi as “one of its Fast 100 Asian American companies that have demonstrated resilience and performance with excellence.  Together the Fast 100 generated annual revenue of $3 billion, despite the global economic challenges.  The country values Hissho’s contributions to the economic vitality of American life.”
Hissho Sushi, headquartered in Charlotte NC, is a thriving sushi /and-or/ hot bar franchise business which currently has 878 locations in 39 states plus the District of Columbia.  Philip Maung, the CEO, came to the United States from Myanmar in 1989 with only $13 in his pocket, and started his sushi business in 1998.

02.29.16 | U.S. Business Executive features Hissho

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http://usbusinessexecutive.com/food-drink/case-studies/hissho-sushi-a-roll-more-17-years-—-record-growth-and-new-asian-food-channel
On a roll for more than 17 years — record growth and new Asian food channel expansion
Written by: Molly Shaw
Produced by: James Logan
With approximately 850 sushi bars in everything from specialty supermarkets to cafes, hospitals, universities, airports, corporate food service locations and more across the country, Hissho Sushi is rounding out its 17th year in business with record success. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hissho’s food service and franchise business has blossomed by more than 72 percent over the last couple of years and the company now ranks No. 4028 on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list for the fifth time.
Founder Philip Maung, who started the business in 1998, is an exemplar of the American Dream. Maung arrived in the U.S. a decade earlier in 1989 with less than $13 to his name. He saw a business opportunity in what was then a relatively nonexistent East Coast sushi market.
Building an empire from the ground up
He picked Charlotte as the city to launch Hissho due to the number of banks, but with little previous business success, they were hesitant to give him financing. But Maung, having grown up in a very impoverished home, is no stranger to adversity and he refused to give up.
He and his wife pooled their resources to launch Hissho out of their home kitchen. “As with any startup company, the first few years were very challenging,” admits Maung. “We finally started making money after our third year in business.”
In Japanese, Hissho means certain victory — a name fitting for the birth and evolution of the family-owned company. A dedication to quality products at affordable price points and detailed service allowed Hissho to quickly acquire new customers with little to no advertising. “We don’t advertise,” says Maung. “Our business was built through word-of-mouth and our success came because we built relationships with one partner at a time and we stand behind our product.”
Maung says by building this solid foundation, as well as investing heavily in infrastructure and employee training, Hissho has been able to achieve many things that were just aspirations in 1989. “Growth starts with a solid foundation,” he says. “We’ve been working really hard over the last couple of years and it has paid off.”
Today, Hissho remains based in Charlotte, operating out of a 51,000-square-foot production facility, but the company’s reach extends well beyond Charlotte. “We now have about 850 locations, including new locations in airport terminals in Charlotte, Nashville, Tennessee, and Portland, Oregon,” notes Maung. “We now have 400 employees, plus an additional 300 franchisees with their own employees.”
A focus on fresh, natural ingredients
Hissho’s home base in Charlotte is the main hub of production and product development. The Hissho motto is: “Made fresh daily, that’s how we roll.”
Since inception, the company’s mission has been to produce the best quality sushi with top-notch ingredients. Whether Hissho’s chefs are crafting a traditional California roll, an eel roll or spicy sriracha-topped sashimi tuna, customers can rest assured the ingredients utilized are the freshest out there. Maung and his team source the best possible ingredients from world markets, guaranteeing the most outstanding seafood, soy, rice and vinegar.
“We also invest heavily in employee training,” says Maung. “All of Hissho’s chefs spend seven to 11 weeks training at our headquarters before being relocated to a Hissho sushi bar in our affiliated marketplaces.”
Hissho’s chefs purchase fruits and vegetables locally from sustainable sources, and the company’s wasabi and ginger are free of artificial colors and dyes. Hissho also offers multigrain and brown rice as an option for nearly all of its rolls.
Beyond the roll
While Hissho has made its name known in fresh, authentic sushi, Maung says the company is looking beyond the roll and to a whole range of new opportunities in the ever-popular Asian foods market. “A lot of people think we’re just a sushi company, but recently we’re doing a lot more than just sushi,” he says.
Hissho has added dishes such as pho, ramen and other Vietnamese noodle soups to its lineup. “We’re also doing traditional bahn mi sandwiches and steamed buns and dumplings,” says Maung. “We’re even doing a take on a Chipotle-style burrito, but made with sushi ingredients such as seaweed and nori. We’re also working on more made-to-order Korean barbecue foods.”
There is room for growth in other channels beyond sushi and Hissho is just getting started. “Last year, 20 percent of our revenue was generated from these additional channels and we expect it to continue to be a growing part of business,” adds Maung.
Holding tight to core values and strong culture
As Hissho adds more locations and more products, Maung says the company is experiencing some growing pains. “Our main challenge is in terms of human resources and finding the talented people we need as the company grows so quickly,” he says. “We also want to make sure we don’t dilute our company culture as expansion occurs.”
Maung says Hissho still has a story to tell and that starts with humble beginnings. “Five years ago we started really focusing on our core company values,” he says. “I thought this was important moving forward and it’s all part of an effort to make us one big, happy family.”
After 17 years in business, Hissho Sushi is poised for further progress that is grounded in family ties and traditions and a dedication to bringing the best sushi and Asian-inspired products to the marketplace.

02.26.16 | 2016 Future 50 Award Winners

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Charlotte SmartCEO Announces the 2016 Future 50 Award Winners

50 Greater Charlotte companies to be recognized for fast growth in SmartCEO’s Future 50 Awards program

https://hisshosushibeer.bar/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/02/chceo_Future50_PreEventPR_2016.pdf

Charlotte, NC (Feb. 18, 2016) — SmartCEO is pleased to announce the 2016 Future 50 Award winners. The program recognizes Greater Charlotte’s 50 fastest-growing mid-sized companies that have experienced outsized growth based on a combined three-year average of revenue and employee growth. The 2016 Future 50 winners collectively generate more than $1.53 billion in annual revenue and employ over 10,300 individuals. This impressive group will be recognized in SmartCEO magazine and celebrated at a black-tie-optional awards ceremony on April 27, 2016 at the Hilton Charlotte Center City.

Please see below for a complete list of winners and for program details. To share in the excitement leading up to the event, follow us @SmartCEO #Future50.

“Ask any CEO and they’ll tell you that leading a fast-growing company is one of the most challenging and fun things an entrepreneur can do. Whether they’re just starting out or rapidly trying to scale an established operation, this year’s Future 50 winners have executed their growth visions year after year, created job opportunities and made our region a better place to work and live,” says Jaime Nespor-Zawmon, President of SmartCEO Events. “There is nothing these amazing entrepreneurs can’t do if they put their minds to it. We honor them for their unwavering determination to rise above the rest and build the future of our region, our nation, and the world at large.”

More than 500 local business executives and guests are expected to attend this year’s black-tieoptional awards gala at the Hilton Charlotte Center City to celebrate the winners and their achievements. The event will kick off with a cocktail reception and high-energy networking followed by a video-packed awards ceremony and seated dinner. The evening and celebration will culminate with dessert and additional networking.

2016 Future 50 Awards

Date: Wednesday, April 27, 2016

VIP Reception: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

General Reception: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Location: Hilton Charlotte Center City 222 E. 3rd St., Charlotte, NC 28202

Attire: Black-tie optional

2016 Future 50 Winners

Alan Simonini Homes LLC

Anointed Flooring, Inc.

Armstrong Transport Group

Artisan Signs and Graphics

Avant Garde Technologies

Barton Contracting Corporation

Boxman Studios, LLC

Carolina’s Home Medical Equipment, Inc.

CCS Construction Staffing

CDI Southeast

Command Partners

Costner Law Office, PLLC

ettain group Inc.

Fab Fours, Inc.

The Greene Group

ImagineSoftware (Technology Partners, Inc.)

In-Flight Crew Connections

Independent Advisor Alliance

InfoSense, Inc.

InnerVision Inc.

Intelligent Buildings, LLC

Jackrabbit Technologies, Inc.

Lakeside Project Solutions

LandDesign, Inc.

LBA Haynes Strand, PLLC

LogoNation, Inc.

Lwin Family Co. (dba Hissho Sushi)

modPALEO

Movement Mortgage

NoDa Brewing Company

OrthoCarolina

Party Reflections

Peak 10, Inc.

Red Moon Marketing

Remi

Rhythm Systems

Search Solution Group

SeedSpark

SMD

Something Classic Catering & Cafés

SPAN Enterprises

Spangler Restoration

Strategic Power Systems, Inc.

T1V

TalentBridge

Tattoo Projects

Teguar

Titan Electric

Verigent, LLC

WDS, Inc.

About the Future 50 Awards
The Future 50 Awards program is the largest and most highly anticipated SmartCEO awards program of the year. This program recognizes 50 of the region’s fastest growing mid-sized companies. These companies represent the future of the region’s economy and embody the entrepreneurial spirit critical for leadership and success. The winners, chosen based on a threeyear average of employee and revenue growth, are listed alphabetically, not ranked. The winners are profiled in SmartCEO magazine and celebrated at a black-tie-optional awards ceremony.
 
About SmartCEO
SmartCEO’s mission is to educate and inspire the business community through its award winning magazine, connections at C-level events and access to valuable online resources. SmartCEO’s integrated media platforms reach decision makers in the Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, metropolitan areas. To find out more about the 2017 Future 50 Awards nomination process, email us at CharlottePrograms@smartceo.com. For information about sponsorship opportunities, email us at Charlotte@smartceo.com.

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