Aldermore Bank has provided an asset finance facility of over £450,000 (€530,129) to Japan Centre, a UK-based Japanese goods provider with a restaurant.

First founded 40 years ago in London, Japan Centre has since expanded to over 500 staff, with multiple locations in London, an online stall, and food halls and a restaurant, Shoryu Ramen, which also has a branch in Manchester.

With Aldermore’s funds, Japan Centre Group purchased soft assets including a full kitchen, and appliances such as refrigeration and air conditioning units.

Tak Tokumine, founder of Japan Centre and Shoryu Ramen, said: “We have ambitious plans to grow our business, and the funding from Aldermore as enabled us to buy the assets we needed in order to drive our expansion.

“The bank was one of the few providers offering asset finance for smaller but integral assets for our business, such as kitchen appliances.”

Sean Thorn, business development manager, asset finance at Aldermore,said: “Japan Centre has grown at a phenomenal rate over the last few years.

“The additional finance facilities we have provided will not only help the group to increase the number of restaurants in London but also in other cities across the UK.

“At the same time, the distribution centres are growing. Tak has a great vision for the business and many more exciting initiatives in the pipeline which we hope to be able to support.”