The $2.4B grocery sushi industry has a dark side — and a new lawsuit exposes what workers were left with

Grocery store sushi has go large business, generating an estimated $2.4 cardinal successful yearly income successful the deli section, according to a study from the National Fisheries Institute's (NFI) Sushi Council.

Unfortunately, a caller suit alleges that immoderate of the companies preparing this sushi bash not person bully concern practices.

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The Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement for San Diego County filed suit successful San Diego Superior Court against 5 abstracted market store sushi companies successful June, and, arsenic NBC San Diego reported, the tribunal filings included immoderate beauteous disturbing claims.

Sushi companies accused of mistreating workers

According to SF Gate, the defendants successful the suit see Ace Sushi Franchise Corp., Asiana Management Group Inc., Advanced Fresh Concepts Franchise Corp., FujiSan Franchising Corp., and Fuji Food Products Inc.

These companies connection grab-and-go sushi astatine supermarkets crossed the U.S., generating ample profits for the stores.

Those really making the sushi, however, whitethorn not beryllium making precise overmuch wealth astatine all. The suit claims that the companies misclassified the sushi makers arsenic autarkic contractor franchisees alternatively of arsenic employees. This enabled the companies to:

• Avoid labour laws that support employees from exploitation

• Force workers to wage retired of pouch for sushi robots, refrigerated displays, equipment, selling fees, and franchisor services

• Require workers to acquisition a minimum measurement of nutrient and packaging each period to debar a fee, and imaginable termination of their franchise statement

• Work highly agelong hours, with sushi chefs routinely moving 50 to 70 hours weekly, 7 days a week

• Keep full idiosyncratic wage highly debased

"After deductions for instrumentality rental, earthy nutrient materials, financing installments, franchise fees, fines, and different charges, galore franchisees are near with small to relationship for the agelong hours of work," the suit states.

The suit seeks damages for workers dealing with this situation, including unpaid wages for the workers, arsenic good arsenic lawyer fees. MoneyWise reached retired to each 5 sushi companies for comment, with nary response.

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