Aloha Poke Co. is opening this week in Richmond, Texas, near Houston, under the direction of franchisee Baryalay Razi, who started at Whataburger over 20 years ago as a dishwasher and worked his way up the ranks before leaving to buy several Bojangles franchises.
“We are thrilled to accelerate our Texas expansion with this new store opening in Richmond,” Chris Birkinshaw, CEO of Aloha Poke Co., said in a company press release. “The Houston metroplex is one of the fastest growing and culturally diverse areas in the nation, and we are very excited to expand our footprint within this very important market with several additional locations opening in the coming months.”
The poke market is expected to grow by $1.2 billion by 2024, according to industry analysts, a trend upon which Birkinshaw is capitalizing.
“Aloha Poke is the perfect example of where consumer trends are heading within the fast casual space,” he said. “Our fresh, healthful, and customizable menu appeals to a wide range of customers, and we look forward to continued strategic expansion across Texas.”
Founded in 2016 at Chicago’s French Market, Aloha Poke Co. has 20 locations.
