Pancho Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Musashino City, Tokyo; President: Keisuke Nojiri), an affiliate of Five Group Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Musashino City, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kenshi Sakamoto), announces that its restaurant "Spaghetti no Pancho" has achieved 50 stores nationwide with the opening of "Spaghetti no Pancho Utsunomiya Tomarizaki Store" on July 3, 2026 (Fri).

Redefining Neapolitan as Japan's Staple Food. 17 Years of Unwavering Progress.

When "Spaghetti no Pancho" was founded in November 2009, Neapolitan was largely perceived as a side dish in old-fashioned coffee shops or an accompaniment to hamburger steak meals. While there were many popular and stylish "pasta specialty stores" and "Italian restaurants" for women, spaghetti shops where men could dine alone were rare.

The story of Pancho's spaghetti began during a brand development meeting at Five Group when it was discovered that a staff member could "make an incredibly delicious Neapolitan." Praised internally as "This is amazing!", the company pondered, "Is Neapolitan a satisfying gourmet dish?" and "Who is the target audience for this Neapolitan?" This led to the establishment of Japan's first Neapolitan specialty store, aiming to allow everyone to "enjoy a satisfying, hearty portion of everyone's favorite Neapolitan anytime."

We have strived to express the "Showa retro" charm of Neapolitan, a dish familiar to Japanese people since childhood, and the coffee shop culture that continues to serve it, through our store's interior and exterior design. We offer a generous portion style, similar to eating ramen or gyudon, with all-you-can-add cheese and hearty toppings, allowing customers to customize their meals and experience "surprise" with every visit. Furthermore, through limited-time menus exploring the potential of spaghetti and seasonal toppings that keep things interesting, we focus on communication with customers via menu development and customer service. Today, it is growing into a popular dining brand with a repeat customer rate exceeding 85%.

*Repeat customer rate is based on our own survey conducted via in-store questionnaires.

*Spaghetti no Pancho was spun off from Five Group Co., Ltd. in 2022.

"Four Commitments" That Continue to Captivate Fans

Shortly after opening our first store in Shibuya, an elderly gentleman told us, "Thank you for creating a place where I can eat such delicious Neapolitan." This inspired Pancho's philosophy: "We want to make people say, 'Neapolitan is truly delicious' again." To ensure that customers can always think, "Pancho's Neapolitan is really good, no matter when or where I eat it," we cherish four key commitments.

1. The Challenge of Generous Portions for Full Satisfaction

Compared to the standard 200g of cooked noodles for regular spaghetti, Pancho offers 400g for a regular serving. Our Mega serving, with free noodle increases, provides 600g of noodles, totaling approximately 900g with sauce and ingredients, ensuring a satisfying meal.

2. "What is Al Dente?" Chewy, Extra-Thick Noodles

Pancho's noodles can be described in one word: "Chewy!" We use extra-thick 2.2mm noodles, boiled thoroughly to the core and then rested for half a day. This extra step creates an unparalleled, supremely chewy texture.

3. Special Tomato Sauce Made Fresh Daily

The key to Neapolitan's flavor is our tomato sauce, handmade in-store every day. Based on tomatoes, the sauce is rich with garlic and aromatic vegetables, offering a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness that is sure to be addictive!

4. Stir-fried Over High Heat, That's Why It's Delicious!

The secret to its rich umami and fragrant aroma lies in "stir-frying over high heat." After boiling, the noodles are rested to absorb plenty of moisture. We then stir-fry the noodles and sauce together over high heat, condensing the flavors and serving the Neapolitan piping hot.

Towards 100 Stores Nationwide and a Brand Loved for 100 Years

A Greeting from Keisuke Nojiri, President of Pancho Co., Ltd. (Pancho Daioh)

I joined Pancho five years after its founding. At the time, with only six stores, it wasn't yet a significant chain. My mission was to develop Japan's first Neapolitan specialty store into a chain loved throughout Japan. To achieve this, I devised the "100-Store Plan" as a management strategy, and we are now executing it with the full cooperation of all our staff and franchise partners.

Pancho has historically been a popular dining brand for male office workers. We aimed to open stores wherever working men were, such as near train stations or in building basements, so they could enjoy a hearty Neapolitan before returning to work.

However, Pancho's style has recently been evolving, with increasing numbers of women and families visiting our stores. Consequently, in shopping malls and roadside locations, we now offer not only "free large portions of Neapolitan" but also menus tailored to individual appetites and moods, such as children's lunch sets (featuring Neapolitan, of course!) and soup spaghetti. Yet, we never forget to incorporate elements that evoke the "delicious!" and "Punchy Pancho flavor!" with every dish.

As we expand our roadside presence, we are responding to the need for "coffee and dessert after a satisfying Neapolitan meal" by incorporating take-out shops like "Eight Coffee" (which can also be brought into Pancho stores), demonstrating our continuous growth and adaptation based on customer feedback and requests.

Moving forward, Pancho will continue to uphold its core philosophy of "We want to make people say, 'Neapolitan is truly delicious' again." We will provide the "surprise" of deliciousness with every bite through diverse and characteristically Pancho menus that cater to each customer's "satisfaction." Currently, "Pancho" is widely recognized as synonymous with Neapolitan, originating from our brand. However, upon reaching 100 stores, we aim to become the leading brand in the Neapolitan industry, known as "Neapolitan means Pancho," and to become a "brand loved for 100 years" alongside Neapolitan as a part of Japanese culture. We kindly ask for your continued patronage of "Spaghetti no Pancho."

Seeking Next-Generation Owners to Expand Pancho Nationwide!

We believe that the power of people is paramount to achieving Pancho's "100-Store Plan" and entrusting new stores to them.

Therefore, we are recruiting for our "Independent Support System" to fulfill the dreams of those who wish to "start their own business!" or "become a restaurant owner!" and who have a passion for spreading Pancho. Whether you are new to the restaurant industry or transitioning from another field, you can rest assured. You will thoroughly learn everything from store operations to management at a popular Pancho store while working as an employee. Once the time is right, you can take over a successful store and become independent. While working as an employee, you will receive a salary and benefits, minimizing risk and maximizing your dream through Pancho's Independent Support System. We encourage you to apply.

Pancho Independent Support System Page: https://naporitanpancho.com/recruit/entrepreneur

We are also seeking restaurant owners who resonate with the philosophy of "We want to make people say, 'Neapolitan is truly delicious' again" and wish to help us spread delicious Neapolitan specialty stores across various regions. As a franchise headquarters, we provide a comprehensive support system, with dedicated supervisors and store development staff offering continuous assistance from store launch to daily operations.

Pancho Franchise Recruitment Page: https://naporitanpancho.com/fc

About Spaghetti no Pancho

A Neapolitan specialty store that offers nostalgia through its commitment to traditional ingredients and cooking methods.

Our signature extra-thick noodles are boiled the day before and allowed to absorb moisture, ensuring they perfectly cling to the sauce. The sauce, handmade in-store daily, offers a unique flavor you won't find anywhere else.

Our generously portioned spaghetti (Small 300g / Regular 400g / Large 500g / Mega 600g*) can be customized with additional toppings (paid), such as fried eggs, thick-cut bacon, and baked cheese, to suit your preferences.

*Some stores may have different noodle quantities. For dine-in, additional noodles beyond Mega serving are available for a fee per 100g. / Take-out and delivery are not applicable (please check the menu on our website or individual store pages for details).

Official Website: https://naporitanpancho.com

Official X: https://x.com/napopancho

Pancho Daioh X: https://x.com/top_of_pancho

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panchonaporitan

Official TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spaghetti_pancho

Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pancho_8888

▼ Pancho's spaghetti is handmade in the kitchen, from preparation to cooking, one plate at a time ▼ As a specialty store with the philosophy "We want to make people say, 'Neapolitan is truly delicious' again," Pancho's Neapolitan is unique and loved by all ages ▼ Satisfies Napolists (= Pancho fans) with abundant topping menus and selectable noodle portions.

Company Name

Five Group Co., Ltd.

Established

June 30, 2003

Headquarters Location

Ichigo Kichijoji Building 7F, 2-5-10 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino City, Tokyo

President and CEO

Kenshi Sakamoto

Number of Employees

2,547 (518 full-time employees, 2,029 part-time employees) *Group consolidated

Awards

GPTW "Great Place to Work Ranking" - No. 1 in the Food Service Industry

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry "Certified Health and Productivity Management Organization" - Certified for 9 consecutive years

Stress-Free Company 2026 Award

Internal Communications Award 2022 Grand Prix

Official HP

http://five-group.co.jp/

Open Internal Communications Conveying the Real Five Group

https://note.five-group.co.jp/

Official Accounts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/5ivegroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5ivegroup_official/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@5IVEGROUP

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: 事業拡大