People to Watch in International Business

People to Watch in International Business

TOMOYOSHI NISHIYAMA CEO, REINS International

Seven years ago, Tomoyoshi Nishiyama wanted to launch his own chain of yakiniku (Japanese-style barbecue) outlets. His background in real estate left him ill prepared for the venture, so he went undercover. He flipped burgers at McDonald's to learn the trade and came away with a strong focus on customer input. His REINS International fast-food empire has now grown to 1,080 locations. (McD's has 3,821 in Japan.) New footholds in Los Angeles and Taiwan mark the latest expansion: Nishiyama hopes to become a top vendor in the U.S. and China. "It's a pretty modest goal," he...

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