Promoting regional revitalization through product development and regional branding

「At the Tokushima-Kagawa Tomoni Ichiba—Furusato Bussankan retail stores selling products from Tokushima and Kagawa prefectures, customer traffic and store sales remained solid. As a result of efforts to expand sales channels for local products from Shikoku and develop original products for local companies, revenue in the group's retail business was ¥30 million, or 119.6% of the same period of the previous year, while the segment loss was ¥4 million, compared with a loss of ¥5 million in the same period of the previous year.」

「The company also launched a new brand jointly with local businesses to showcase the appeal of Shikoku.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group worked to provide consulting-style solutions using data and AI, while pursuing new initiatives such as holding generative-AI schools for local companies in cooperation with AI start-ups and developing products for local companies in collaboration with the Group’s regional trading-company function, thereby leveraging the Group’s strengths in its proposal activities.」

「The number of purchasers at the store increased steadily and the company was able to secure stable sales. It also exhibited at regional product fairs and took on independently organized events.」

「One year has passed since the Tokushima-Kagawa Tomoni Market, a retail store for products from Tokushima and Kagawa prefectures, reopened in August of the previous year. The number of products had returned to its pre-reopening level, enabling the company to secure stable sales, and it also conducted exhibition sales at department stores and commercial facilities near train stations.」

「Our Group worked to expand sales channels for regional products by operating the Tokushima-Kagawa Tomoni Market—Furusato Bussankan—, a retail store for products from Tokushima and Kagawa prefectures, whose business it acquired in July of the previous year and reopened in August. The number of purchasers increased steadily at the store, enabling the company to secure stable sales, and it also took on exhibition sales at department stores and large-scale retailers.」

「As part of its efforts in new business areas, the company acquired the business in July and, through operating the Tokushima-Kagawa Tomoni Market—Furusato Product Hall, a store selling products from Tokushima and Kagawa prefectures that reopened in August, worked to expand distribution channels for regional products. The number of purchasers at the store increased steadily, enabling it to secure stable sales.」

「At the Tokushima-Kagawa Tomoni Market, the company secured sales at the same level as before its reopening」

「For the e-commerce website "ＬＯＣＯＭＥＲＵ," the company worked to expand its product lineup and strengthen sales through promotional campaigns.」

「For the fiscal year ended March 2023, as part of its efforts to enter new businesses, the company established 株式会社ＭＤ＆アソシエイツ on 1 December of the previous year to introduce and sell attractive local products and services through an e-commerce website and other channels, and opened the e-commerce website "ＬＯＣＯＭＥＲＵ（ロコメル）" on 11 February.」

「As part of its efforts in new businesses, the Group established the new subsidiary 株式会社ＭＤ＆アソシエイツ on 1 December of the previous year and launched a business introducing and selling attractive regional products and services through e-commerce sites and other channels.」

「Our Group will make maximum use of the regional information accumulated within the Group, as well as its direction and marketing capabilities as an advertising company rooted in the local community, engaging in product development, branding of regional products and tourism resources, and expansion of sales channels for regional products」

「Our Group will promote its regional revitalization business by making maximum use of the regional information accumulated within the Group, as well as its direction and marketing capabilities as an advertising company rooted in the local community, engaging in product development, branding of regional products and tourism resources, and expansion of sales channels for regional products.」