Japan's Yoshinoya cooks up plans to become global ramen powerhouse

TOKYO -- Japan's Yoshinoya Holdings is turning up the heat on its push into selling ramen as intensifying price competition pressures revenues at its core gyudon beef bowl chain.

The company has acquired several regional ramen restaurant operators and a key supplier of noodles and other ingredients, aiming to create a multi-brand "conglomerate" structure to meet diverse demand both domestically and overseas.