Shin-Line to bring Japan’s Ajisen Ramen to Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan-based Shin-Line, Central Asia’s largest ice cream producer, plans to develop the Japanese ramen chain Ajisen Ramen in Kazakhstan.

According to the company’s press service, the ice cream producer has signed an agreement with Japan’s Shigemitsu Industry, which owns the brand. Under the agreement, the two companies will establish a joint venture to develop the Ajisen Ramen franchise in the region.

Once established, the new company will oversee franchising, production and product adaptation under the Ajisen Ramen brand. The franchise is expected to expand between 2027 and 2031, with plans to open up to 50 restaurants.

The first Ajisen Ramen restaurant is scheduled to open in Almaty. Shin-Line will produce restaurant ingredients at its facilities in the village of Baiserke in the Almaty region, where it will establish a central kitchen in accordance with Japanese standards.

Using its logistics and production base in the country, Shin-Line also plans to expand the brand into markets across Central Asia, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Caucasus and Eastern Europe.

«One restaurant is just the beginning. It’s important for us to build a system that can be effectively scaled to other countries. Here, we have a reliable Japanese partner, our own production facilities, and a deep understanding of regional markets,» Shin-Line Group President Andrey Shin said.

Shin-Line said it will adapt recipes and production standards to local tastes. Entering the restaurant business will mark a new strategic direction for the group, which aims to create a new center for Japanese culinary culture, attract foreign investment and create jobs.

Ajisen Ramen is a Japanese restaurant chain founded in Kumamoto, Japan, in 1968. The chain is known for its Kumamoto-style tonkotsu ramen, made with a pork-bone broth. It has hundreds of locations worldwide, including restaurants in Japan, China, Canada and the U.S.