KUALA LUMPUR: Empire Premium Food Bhd, the operator of the Empire Sushi chain, is targeting about 165 outlets by March 31, 2027, as it continues to expand its network.
The group said it would focus on strengthening its presence in Sabah and Sarawak while evaluating new locations with high customer traffic and tourism potential.
Empire opened five new outlets during the second quarter ended Sept 30, 2026 (2QFY27), bringing its total network to 156 outlets, comprising 138 grab-and-go and 18 quick dine-in outlets.
For 2QFY27, the group recorded a net profit of RM13.69mil, or earnings per share of 1.24 sen on revenue of RM85.23mil.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, net profit increased 26.2%, supported by improved cost management and operational efficiency.
Gross profit margin improved to 42%, driven by better control of raw material purchases and direct staff costs.
For the six months ended Sept 30, 2026, Empire posted a net profit of RM24.54mil, up 19.5% from RM20.5mil a year earlier, while revenue rose 25.1% to RM169.91mil.
The group declared a first interim dividend of 0.67 sen per share, amounting to RM7.4mil, payable on Dec 8, 2026.
Empire said it had cash and cash equivalents of RM235.8mil and no borrowings as at the end of September.
Chief executive officer Nicole Lim said the group would continue to focus on improving outlet productivity, expanding its product offerings and encouraging higher customer spending.
She said the group would pursue selective outlet expansion, particularly in underserved markets, while seeking to maximise the earnings potential of each location.
“Looking ahead, we believe there are opportunities to further strengthen our market position through selective outlet expansion, particularly in underserved markets, while leveraging our established brand, scalable business model and strong balance sheet to deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders.”
