TOKYO, July 30 (Reuters) - Japanese trading house Sojitz ( SZHFF )

said on Tuesday it had bought the takeout sushi

businesses of Sushi Avenue Inc in the United States for an

undisclosed sum, as part of a drive to expand its seafood

operations.

Sojitz ( SZHFF ) is aiming to boost annual net profit from seafood

operations to 4 billion yen ($26 million) in the year to March

2027 from 1.2 billion yen in the year ended March 2024.

"We are taking on the challenge of becoming the world's No.1

distinctive marine products group, with strength in tuna and

sushi products," finance chief Makoto Shibuya told reporters.

"We aim to boost the profitability of domestic seafood

operations and strengthen initiatives in growing overseas

markets," he said.

The U.S. sushi market has grown to almost 1.6 times the size

of the market in Japan, according to Sojitz ( SZHFF ), with favourites

such as California rolls becoming a staple of American cuisine

and nigiri sushi growing in popularity.

Shibuya said the purchase price was several billions of yen,

without giving an exact figure.

Sushi Avenue operates a supermarket takeout sushi business

with over 300 retail locations in the Midwest and across the

United States.

In entering the United States, Sojitz ( SZHFF ) aims to leverage the

procurement and product development expertise of its Japanese

seafood business.

Japanese trading houses have been investing in the seafood

sector, with Mitsubishi Corp ( MSBHF ) owning a Norwegian salmon

producer and Mitsui & Co ( MITSF ) buying into an Ecuadoran

shrimp farming company.

Asked whether Sojitz ( SZHFF ) would also invest in salmon farming,

Shibuya said it might if there was a good opportunity.

Sojitz ( SZHFF ) reported a 4.1% rise in net profit for the April-June

quarter to 23.04 billion yen and stuck to its full-year profit

forecast of 110 billion yen.

The company plans to withdraw from its Philippines car

business by the end of this year due to a slumping performance

amid fierce competition.

($1 = 154.7400 yen)