Under the 2025 FDD, Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise Corp. licenses Zenshi, AFC Food Service and Wild Blue Counters in full-time, part-time or self-service formats inside a host grocery store or venue. The host facility supplies traffic and normally processes sales; the franchisee runs production, staffing and compliance; AFC controls the site, menu, suppliers, systems and standards.
Data basis. The legal franchisor is Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise Corp. Its immediate parent is Advanced Fresh Concepts Corp.; its ultimate parent is Zensho Holdings Co., Ltd.; and AFC Distribution Corp. dba Wonderfield Distribution is a logistics affiliate.
The U.S. 2025 AFC Franchise Disclosure Document was issued July 22, 2025 and amended through May 7, 2026. It covers Zenshi Counters, AFC Food Service Counters and Wild Blue Counters under Full-Time, Part-Time and Self-Service Location Addenda. Evidence comes from Items 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19 and 20, the Franchise Agreement and the manuals table of contents. Item 20 reports through March 31, 2025; official pages were checked July 30, 2026. Item 19 makes no financial performance representation.
Official context: AFC franchise website, AFC operating overview, and Zensho Holdings group profile. Contractual source: 2025 AFC FDD cover and Items 1-20.
Offering and format
What does an Advanced Fresh Concepts franchisee sell?
The authorized business is a host-site Food Service Counter selling prepared sushi and other Asian-style foods, including approved hot-food and retail items where the location permits them.
The franchisee may sell only AFC-approved products for that counter. AFC may require the authorized menu, introduce products, require a 120-day display period and reject franchisee-developed items. Preparation must follow AFC recipes, techniques and sampling rules.
Sources: 2025 AFC FDD Items 1 and 16, pp. 3-4 and 40; Franchise Agreement §§11.5-11.8. Official product context: AFC product families, official sushi range, and official hot-food range.
Full-Time Location
The counter operates each day the host facility is open, is staffed during key hours and must have sufficient food displayed by 11:00 a.m. AFC may revise staffing and stocking requirements by written notice.
Part-Time Location
Available only to an existing Full-Time Location franchisee. Food must be displayed before trading, but personnel need not remain physically present for more than four hours per day.
Self-Service Location
Available only to selected existing operators. Food is prepared at an approved production counter, delivered to the remote site, and inspected and restocked at least daily before trading.
Zenshi, AFC Food Service and Wild Blue identify counter concepts; full-time, part-time and self-service define labor and fulfillment. A Location Addendum combines one counter identity with one operating format, while the facility owner can influence the permitted brand, food mix and format.
Customer and transaction
Who buys the food, and how does a sale reach the franchisee?
The customer is a shopper, student, employee or visitor already using the host facility. Most demand comes from that venue, not a franchisee-controlled channel.
Customers select packaged grab-and-go food or request counter service, then pay through the host register. The facility owner reports sales and sends payment to AFC after retaining its contractual amount. AFC applies authorized deductions and remits the franchisee’s agreed percentage. The franchisee relies on host-reported sales data and the AFC monthly statement, not its own checkout or receipt collection.
The franchisee may not independently sell by website, catalog or telemarketing. A host agreement can include third-party delivery through DoorDash or Grubhub; the channel belongs to the host, and related charges may reduce remittance. It is not a franchisee-owned online-sales right.
Sources: 2025 AFC FDD Items 1, 6, 12 and 16, pp. 3-4, 10-15, 33-34 and 40; Franchise Agreement §§3.5, 9.2-9.3 and 9.16. Consumer access: official AFC store locator.
Verified workflow
How does work move through an AFC counter?
The cycle links host traffic, AFC-controlled purchasing, franchisee production, host checkout and AFC reconciliation. At a Self-Service Location, production and retail display occur at separate sites.
Demand enters through the host
- Actor:
- Host facility, franchisee and AFC-approved marketing.
- Action:
- Generate walk-in demand through store traffic, displays, sampling and approved promotion.
- Required system/asset:
- Named host location and approved advertising.
- Output:
- Demand signal for the production plan.
Plan production and order inputs
- Actor:
- Franchisee or approved manager.
- Action:
- Review inventory and authorized products; submit purchase orders online.
- Required system/asset:
- AFC inventory tracking software, internet-connected computer and approved supplier list.
- Output:
- Ordered ingredients, packaging and supplies.
Receive controlled inputs
- Actor:
- AFC, AFC Distribution Corp. dba Wonderfield Distribution, approved suppliers and franchisee.
- Action:
- Fulfill and receive ingredients, proprietary products and equipment; source produce to specification.
- Required system/asset:
- Approved brands, traceable products and maintained equipment.
- Output:
- Compliant preparation inventory.
Prepare, package and label
- Actor:
- Properly trained franchisee personnel.
- Action:
- Prepare approved recipes, package products, print labels and complete food-safety records.
- Required system/asset:
- Tablet System, printer, inventory scanner, recipe guides, temperature logs and pH logs.
- Output:
- Sale-ready, traceable products.
Stock and serve the counter
- Actor:
- Franchisee, manager, sushi chef where applicable, and employees.
- Action:
- Maintain required hours, display levels, cleanliness and service.
- Required system/asset:
- Host-approved counter, uniforms, display case and inventory.
- Output:
- Merchandised product available to host customers.
Move self-service product
- Actor:
- Franchisee personnel.
- Action:
- Deliver food from the approved production counter, inspect the remote display and restock daily.
- Required system/asset:
- Delivery vehicle, delivery logs and Self-Service Location Addendum.
- Output:
- Remote counter stocked before trading.
Complete the customer sale
- Actor:
- Customer and host facility.
- Action:
- Process the purchase through the facility register and include it in the host sales report.
- Required system/asset:
- Host point-of-sale system.
- Output:
- Host-reported Gross Sales and payment to AFC.
Reconcile, report and correct
- Actor:
- Franchisee and AFC.
- Action:
- Compare sales records, report discrepancies within 30 days, retain records and correct deficiencies.
- Required system/asset:
- AFC Connect portal, monthly statement, weekly reports and operating logs.
- Output:
- Net remittance, audit trail and corrective action.
Workflow basis: 2025 AFC FDD Items 6, 8, 11 and 15; Franchise Agreement §§9.2-10.4 and 11.1-11.24; Full-Time Addendum §G, Part-Time Addendum §F and Self-Service Addendum §F.
Actors and decisions
Who performs each function, and what remains the franchisee’s decision?
The franchisee controls employment and daily execution, but not the commercial architecture. AFC and the host facility retain separate control over the menu, site, supply chain, data flow and sales channel.
Franchisee responsibilities
- Runs the counter
- Prepares food, staffs the unit, maintains inventory, resolves complaints and keeps required logs.
- Employs personnel
- Selects employees, headcount, pay and discipline, subject to AFC staffing minimums, certifications and host rules.
- Chooses prices
- May set retail prices, while AFC can recommend schedules and, when lawful, impose maximum or minimum prices.
AFC franchisor controls
- Defines the system
- Approves products, suppliers, recipes, labels, technology, advertising and manuals.
- Checks compliance
- Inspects counters, accesses records and Tablet System data, orders correction and can require upgrades or training.
- Administers payment
- Receives host payments, applies contractual deductions and sends the franchisee’s net remittance.
Host and third parties
- Facility owner
- Supplies the site, traffic, operating rules, register and sales report; it can object to the operator or change site conditions.
- AFC-approved suppliers
- AFC, AFCDC and approved vendors provide controlled ingredients, packaging, equipment and logistics.
- Certification and audit
- ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification and AFC or third-party inspections support food-safety compliance.
A manager can operate a location, but the model is not disclosed as absentee. The franchisee or principal owner must remain personally and actively involved and responsible for every location. Multi-unit operators need trained managers; manager additions or departures must be reported to AFC within 24 hours.
Sources: 2025 AFC FDD Item 15, p. 39; Franchise Agreement §§11.17 and 11.22. Certification context: official ServSafe Manager program.
Supply, technology and control
Which suppliers and operating systems are mandatory?
AFC controls nearly all recurring inputs: the FDD estimates that purchases from AFC and approved sources represent at least 95% of ongoing purchases; produce is the principal item generally bought elsewhere.
Controlled supply chain
Seafood, rice, vinegar, frozen salads, condiments, prepackaged foods, most other foods, branded utensils and serving trays must come from AFC, its affiliates or approved suppliers. AFC can designate sole sources, revise specifications, revoke approvals and require proprietary products. The facility owner can add traceability restrictions.
Required technology stack
The franchisee needs an internet-connected computer, plus the specified Samsung tablet, printer and scanner for purchasing, labels and product tracking. AFC can access tablet records, require upgrades and designate future software; the franchisee maintains the equipment.
Food-safety records
Records can include cleaning schedules, Daily Production Reports, delivery logs, overnight rice-cooling logs, pH logs, temperature logs and sushi-cooling logs. AFC can inspect counters, order laboratory testing and require immediate correction of a public-health deficiency.
Manual and product control
The Operating Manual, Standard Sanitation Operating Procedure and Methods Manual, recipe guides and steam-table materials contain system standards. AFC may revise the manuals and the AFC System; the franchisee must implement required changes.
Sources: 2025 AFC FDD Items 8 and 11, pp. 23-24 and 31-32; Franchise Agreement §§4.5, 5.1, 7.1-7.2 and 11.1-11.20. Public support context: AFC Operations Excellence Specialist and AFC Food Safety Specialist.
Territory and channels
Does the franchisee control a territory or customer base?
No. The grant covers one or more named host locations, not a minimum or exclusive territory, protected customer list, development area or digital channel.
AFC can place franchised or company-owned counters nearby, sell prepackaged or central-kitchen products through other channels and authorize competing concepts. The franchisee may advertise beyond the site only under AFC geographic restrictions and prior approval; the facility owner can reject objectionable advertising.
The key dependency is the host-location agreement. AFC or its parent—not the franchisee—contracts with the grocery chain or venue. The agreement may be month-to-month; the facility owner can object to the operator or request brand, menu or format changes. If a site is lost without franchisee fault, AFC promises only to try to find a replacement.
A host location is an operating permission, not a protected market. Additional counters require separate Location Addenda and AFC approval based on site availability, proximity, operating performance, financial capacity and qualified managers.
Sources: 2025 AFC FDD Items 11 and 12, pp. 30-34; Franchise Agreement §§3.1-3.5 and 8.1-8.6.
System footprint
What does Item 20 show about the operating network?
At March 31, 2025, the three U.S. counter identities totaled 4,427 outlets: 4,128 franchised outlets and 299 company-owned outlets. The composition was 93.2% franchised and 6.8% company-owned.
U.S. outlet composition by ownership
Zenshi, AFC Food Service and Wild Blue Counters combined — March 31, 2025
Interpretation: The U.S. network is predominantly franchised; company-owned outlets form a separate 6.8% operating population.
| Counter identity | Franchised | Company-owned | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zenshi Counter | 3,572 | 190 | 3,762 |
| AFC Food Service Counter | 434 | 52 | 486 |
| Wild Blue Counter | 122 | 57 | 179 |
| Total | 4,128 | 299 | 4,427 |
Source: 2025 AFC FDD Item 20, Table No. 1 for each counter identity, pp. 49, 59 and 69-70. Percentages equal each ownership count divided by 4,427 and reconcile to 100.0% after rounding.
Buyer verification
Which operating questions remain location-specific?
The proposed Location Addendum and host conditions determine the unit’s operating percentage, brand, format, schedule and counter-specific obligations.
Operating-model synthesis. Prepared food is sold to host-facility traffic through the host checkout system, followed by AFC-administered remittance. The franchisee’s core responsibility is daily production, staffing, stocking and compliance. The strongest dependency is AFC control of the host relationship, supply chain and standards. The critical distinction is the full-time, part-time or self-service format. The largest unresolved question is the proposed host’s schedule, labor, payment, delivery and termination terms.
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