Kobe Lamptei Inc., a fast-food restaurant chain, said Thursday it will continue serving its main "gyudon" beef-on-rice dish beyond April by using Australian beef.

The decision runs counter to its four bigger industry peers, which stopped serving gyudon earlier this month after their stock of U.S. beef ran out.

The move by Kobe Lamptei, which runs some 40 outlets, pleased Australian beef producers.

Samantha Jamieson, head of the Japanese unit of Meat and Livestock Australia, released a statement saying she is "very pleased" to learn of the company's decision to continue serving the dish, which enjoys "a special affection among Japanese," by switching from U.S. to Australian beef.