Uniforms

The sushi-consuming experience is enriched by witnessing the preparation of the product. In tra-ditional sushi bars in Japan, sushi chefs typically wear a white chef uniform, which includes a coat, hat, and apron, to prepare the sushi products right before the customers’ eyes. In an effort to emulate this experience, Advanced Fresh Concepts has its sushi chefs in local supermarkets wear a similar uniform as they prepare fresh sushi products in front of customers. Understanding the hesitation that customers may have about the quality of the ingredients, preparation is also made visible to obtain the customers’ trust, and assure them that the products are freshly made.


The color and style of the uniforms vary based on the local supermarket’s store require-ments and marketing strategies. They are designed to blend in with the overall store atmosphere. Since its establishment, Advanced Fresh Concepts underwent a few changes in its company trademark, from Advanced Fresh Concepts Corp. in 1987, to Southern Tsunami in 2003, to the currently used AFC Franchise Corp. registered in 2012. This explains the different logos printed on the uniforms.

Sushi Jacket

A red Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC) sushi chef coat with a double-buttoned front and 10 buttons. It has a pocket on the right side and the AFC logo on the left side in green, yellow, grey, and blue threading.
Description
A red Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC) sushi chef coat with a double-buttoned front and 10 buttons. It has a pocket on the right side and the AFC logo on the left side in green, yellow, grey, and blue threading. It has the AFC logo on the sleeve on the left side and a pocket on the sleeve on the right side. Similar to styles of other sushi chef coats, this coat has a loose fit and is long enough to cover the upper thigh area. The neck area is also slightly covered by the short collar.
The coat belonged to the AFC Corporation in California that distributes fresh sushi products to supermarkets around the nation. It has been worn in the Publix supermarket’s Greenwise Stores since 2009. This jacket is purchased through Chef Works, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of customizable chef clothing. AFC Corporation customized this generic style of jacket by adding the AFC logo on the right chest area and right sleeve, and the color of it reflects AFC Corporation’s intention of having the uniform blend in with the overall color scheme of the local store.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2009
maker
Chef Works, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0182.04a
accession number
2012.0182
catalog number
2012.0182.04a

Sushi Chef Coat

Inspired by the Japanese short kimono, this coat is the first design worn by Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation sushi chefs. It is white with a blue collar that extends down the front of the coat.
Description
Inspired by the Japanese short kimono, this coat is the first design worn by Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation sushi chefs. It is white with a blue collar that extends down the front of the coat. The fit is loose, with the sleeves hitting a few inches above the wrist and the body reaching mid-thigh. The wearer secures the coat by crossing the right panel to the left, the left panel over to the right, and finally tying the attached strings to hold it in place. This creates a V-neck style that is further emphasized by the navy blue trim.
The first AFC chef uniform consisted of this coat, a full length green apron, and a chefs hat. It was worn between 1990 and 2006. Each component of the uniform includes the first generation AFC Corp. logo, which shows the initials 'AFC,' an image of two pieces of nigiri sushi, and 'Since 1986' within an oval. The two pieces of nigiri sushi on the logo are individually wrapped with a piece of seaweed, probably a tamago nigiri (egg sushi).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980s
maker
unknown
ID Number
2012.0182.01a
accession number
2012.0182
catalog number
2012.0182.01a

Sushi Chef Hat

This polyester and cotton hat was worn by Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation sushi chefs between 1990 and 2006. The hat is round and cap-like rather than a traditional chef's toque. Designed to fit snug at the base and loose at the top allowing the hat to retain its shape.
Description
This polyester and cotton hat was worn by Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation sushi chefs between 1990 and 2006. The hat is round and cap-like rather than a traditional chef's toque. Designed to fit snug at the base and loose at the top allowing the hat to retain its shape. The AFC logo would be centered over the chef's mid-forehead.
The first AFC chef uniform consisted of a kimono-style coat, a full length green apron, and this chef's hat. Each piece of the uniform includes the first generation AFC Corp. logo, which consists of an oval containing “AFC”, two pieces of nigiri sushi, and “Since 1986” written below the oval. The two pieces of nigiri sushi on the logo are individually wrapped with a piece of seaweed, probably a tamago nigiri (egg sushi).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980s
maker
unknown
ID Number
2012.0182.01b
accession number
2012.0182
catalog number
2012.0182.01b

Sushi Chef Hat

This Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC) uniform hat was worn at a Tysons, Virginia, Harris Teeter supermarket in 2009. The hat has a white and blue striped band with white netting on the top.
Description
This Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation (AFC) uniform hat was worn at a Tysons, Virginia, Harris Teeter supermarket in 2009. The hat has a white and blue striped band with white netting on the top. The band is made with a stretchy material at the back to adjust to different head sizes and shapes. The pattern around the band of the hat coordinates with the striped pattern on the sleeves of the blue chef coat.
In 2008, AFC designed a uniform hat and coat to align with Harris Teeters desires to distinguish itself from other supermarkets. The color choice was determined by the color scheme of the supermarket where it was worn, thus reflecting the general ambiance of the store. In later years the store adopted the original AFC white coat and hat.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2009
maker
unknown
ID Number
2012.0182.02b
accession number
2012.0182
catalog number
2012.0182.02b

Sushi Chef Coat

This blue Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation chef coat was worn at a Tysons, Virginia, Harris Teeter supermarket in 2009. It is a short Japanese kimono style with a white and blue striped collar that extends to the front of the uniform.
Description
This blue Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation chef coat was worn at a Tysons, Virginia, Harris Teeter supermarket in 2009. It is a short Japanese kimono style with a white and blue striped collar that extends to the front of the uniform. On the ends of each sleeve there is a blue and white striped border. The sleeves are wide and seem to flare out modestly, hitting midway between the elbow and the wrist. The blue coat is done in the short kimono style. The bottom of the coat reaches around the mid-thigh area, and is designed for a loose fit. The right panel is folded beneath the left, which is secured at the right waist area by a string.
In 2008 AFC designed a uniform coat to align with Harris Teeters desires to distinguish itself from other supermarkets. The color choice was determined by the color scheme of the supermarket where it was worn, thus reflecting the general ambiance of the store. The blue, short kimono-style chef coat with blue and white striped trim was worn with a blue and white striped hat. In later years the store adopted the original AFC white coat and hat.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2009
maker
unknown
ID Number
2012.0182.02a
accession number
2012.0182
catalog number
2012.0182.02a

Apron

The green apron is a piece of the first generation uniform worn by Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation sushi chef between 1990 and 2006. The green bib-style apron has two large pockets right next to each other, perhaps for sushi making tools.
Description
The green apron is a piece of the first generation uniform worn by Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation sushi chef between 1990 and 2006. The green bib-style apron has two large pockets right next to each other, perhaps for sushi making tools. The apron has two strings on both sides that are to be tied at the back. It also has another string with a black plastic adjustable strap to be worn around the neck. The general shape of the apron is boxy with clean straight edges, and hits the knee area.
The first AFC chef uniform consisted of a Kimono syle coat, this full length green apron, and a chefs hat. Each component of the uniform includes the first generation AFC Corp. logo, which consists of an oval containing “AFC”, two pieces of nigiri sushi, and “Since 1986” written below the oval. The two pieces of nigiri sushi on the logo are individually wrapped with a piece of seaweed, probably a tamago nigiri (egg sushi).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1980s
maker
unknown
ID Number
2012.0182.01c
accession number
2012.0182
catalog number
2012.0182.01c

Chef Hat

This black Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation uniform hat was worn by sushi chefs in Publix supermarkets starting in 2009. It has black netting on the top and is adjustable in the back where to fit different head sizes.
Description
This black Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation uniform hat was worn by sushi chefs in Publix supermarkets starting in 2009. It has black netting on the top and is adjustable in the back where to fit different head sizes. The style is fitted at the base and slightly loose at the top.
An olive green chef coat, accompanied by this black chef hat and a short black apron, was worn by AFC sushi chefs in Publix supermarkets For reasons such as marketing strategies and store requirements, this green and black uniform emerged to differentiate itself from the original white uniform. The coat’s green double-breasted style deviates from the style of the first generation white kimono-style chef coat, and suggests the color scheme of the supermarket they were worn in.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2009
maker
unknown
ID Number
2012.0182.03b
accession number
2012.0182
catalog number
2012.0182.03b

Black Apron

The black apron is a short wrap-around style apron with two pockets. The apron has two adjacent pockets and a pen holder on the right side. The apron is reversible as it has the two pockets on the other side.
Description
The black apron is a short wrap-around style apron with two pockets. The apron has two adjacent pockets and a pen holder on the right side. The apron is reversible as it has the two pockets on the other side. The string on the ends are wrapped around the waist and secured with a knot at either the back or the front. The apron is long enough to reach the knee area.
An olive green chef coat, accompanied by a black chef hat and this short black apron, has been worn by Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation sushi chefs in Publix supermarkets starting in 2009. For reasons such as marketing strategies and store requirements, this green and black uniform emerged to differentiate itself from the original white uniform. The coat’s green double-breasted style differs from the style of the original white kimono-style chef coat, and suggests the color scheme of the supermarket they were worn in.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2009
maker
unknown
ID Number
2012.0182.03c
accession number
2012.0182
catalog number
2012.0182.03c

Green Chef Coat

The olive green chef coat is a double buttoned chef coat from the Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation. There are ten buttons on the front of the coat. It has a short collar with wide short sleeves that presumably hit around the elbow.
Description
The olive green chef coat is a double buttoned chef coat from the Advanced Fresh Concepts Corporation. There are ten buttons on the front of the coat. It has a short collar with wide short sleeves that presumably hit around the elbow. There is a pocket on the right chest area of the coat as well as on the right sleeve, which has a black symbol that contains an image of a fork. The coat is long enough to reach the knee area. The jacket has the AFC logo in green, blue, grey, and yellow thread on the left side of the front and on the left sleeve. The logo includes the text "AFC Franchise Corp.", a blue tsunami wave on the left of it, and “Since 1986” right below. This coat was produced in China.
The olive green chef coat, accompanied by a black chef hat and a short black apron, has been worn by AFC sushi chefs in Publix supermarkets since 2009. For reasons such as marketing strategies and store requirements, this green and black uniform emerged to differentiate itself from the original white uniform. The coat’s green double-breasted style deviates from the style of the first generation white kimono-style chef coat, and suggests the color scheme of the supermarket that they were worn in.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 2009
maker
Chef Works, Inc.
ID Number
2012.0182.03a
accession number
2012.0182
catalog number
2012.0182.03a

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