Strong performance in the general consumer goods market driven by a recovery in personal consumption and an increase in drugstore openings

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, the polarization of consumption accelerated as consumers maintained a strong preference for saving on essential goods, while demand for value-added products emphasizing functionality and convenience remained solid. Specifically, stronger inbound demand supported in-store sales, while demand for skincare products, supported by growing health and beauty awareness, as well as for gardening supplies and pet-related products, also remained firm.」

「Consumers were seen restraining purchases due to high prices. On the other hand, as opportunities to go out increased and inbound demand recovered, sales of cosmetics and OTC medicines, as well as daily necessities, particularly laundry detergents, performed well. Sales of pet-related products also remained solid.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, consumers were seen restraining purchases due to high prices. At the same time, sales of cosmetics, laundry detergents, and OTC medicines benefited from increased opportunities to go out and the recovery in inbound demand. Sales of pet-related products also remained solid.」

「Sales of cosmetics, skincare products, and laundry detergents benefited from increased opportunities to go out and the recovery in inbound demand. Sales of pet-related products also remained solid. At the same time, restraint in purchasing due to a stronger preference for saving continued, and the overall environment remained difficult.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, the overall environment remained difficult as consumers restrained purchases due to a stronger preference for saving. Even so, sales in some categories, including skincare, hair care, oral care, and OTC medicines, were strong as opportunities to go out and the number of visitors to Japan increased. Sales of pet-related products also remained solid as the popularity of pets continued to grow.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, sales of skincare products and lip balm for protection against winter dryness and cold performed well as opportunities to go out increased. Sales also increased for sheet masks and facial packs, cold remedies, and cough suppressants and expectorants, which are in high demand among visitors to Japan. Although sales of premium products in each category and pet-related products remained solid, the environment remained difficult, with restraint in purchasing due to a stronger preference for saving.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, sales of UV-care products and odor-control products such as laundry deodorizers increased due to continued record heat and more opportunities to go out. Although sales of premium products in each category and pet-related products remained solid, the environment remained difficult, with restraint in purchasing due to a stronger preference for saving.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, sales of cosmetics and laundry detergents increased as opportunities to go out expanded, while antipyretic analgesics, which are in high demand among visitors to Japan, also performed well.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, some cosmetics and medicines, such as tonic drinks, performed well as opportunities to go out increased while living with COVID-19. Demand for rhinitis medicines and eye drops also increased because pollen levels were the highest in the past 3 years. However, the environment became difficult as higher food and utility prices due to soaring raw material costs led to weaker consumer sentiment, including restraint in purchasing and a stronger preference for saving, while demand for COVID-19 infection-prevention products and stay-at-home-related products also declined.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, some cosmetics and medicines, such as tonic drinks, performed well as opportunities to go out increased while living with COVID-19. In addition, demand for cold remedies, antipyretic analgesics, and cough suppressants and expectorants to relieve symptoms such as fever increased as the number of infections rose, and overall demand remained firm.」

「The general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, entered a new phase of living with COVID-19. As opportunities to go out increased, some cosmetics and medicines, such as tonic drinks, began to recover. Demand for hygiene products such as masks, as well as cold remedies and antipyretic analgesics, all related to infection prevention, was substantially above the previous year, and overall demand remained firm.」

「For some cosmetics and OTC medicines, demand remained affected by the decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, but consumer lifestyles had changed from the early stages of the pandemic, and the market was slightly above the previous year's level.」

「For some cosmetics and OTC medicines, demand remained affected by fewer opportunities to go out, but consumer lifestyles had changed from the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the market gradually shifted to a recovery trend.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, some infection-prevention-related products saw a reversal of the special demand seen in the previous year, but consumers' strong awareness of hygiene continued and sales remained at the previous year's level. For some cosmetics and OTC medicines, the impact of the loss of inbound demand had run its course, but demand remained affected by fewer opportunities to go out and did not rise substantially above the previous year. At the same time, special demand for antipyretic analgesics as a measure against side effects from COVID-19 vaccines, together with increased demand for high-function products and pet-related products for comfortable living at home as people spent more time there, resulted in overall demand remaining firm.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which the company's business is primarily engaged, some infection-control products saw a reactionary decline following the special demand of the previous year. Although the impact of the loss of inbound demand for some cosmetics and OTC drugs had run its course, difficult conditions continued due to fewer opportunities to go out and other factors, and sales did not exceed the previous year by a substantial margin. At the same time, there was special demand for antipyretic analgesics to address side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, while demand for high-function products for comfortable living at home and pet-related products increased as people spent more time at home. Overall demand therefore remained firm.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which the company's business is primarily engaged, the business was affected by a decline in inbound demand caused by the spread of COVID-19 and sluggish personal consumption of some cosmetics and OTC drugs. At the same time, demand for infection-control products such as masks and disinfectant and hygiene products, as well as products associated with stay-at-home consumption, continued to remain firm due to new lifestyles and changes in consumption patterns.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which the company's business is primarily engaged, the business was affected by a decline in inbound demand caused by the spread of COVID-19 and sluggish personal consumption of some cosmetics and OTC drugs. At the same time, demand for infection-control products such as masks and disinfectant and hygiene products, as well as products associated with stay-at-home consumption, continued to remain firm due to new lifestyles and changes in consumption patterns.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which the company's business is primarily engaged, the business was affected by a decline in inbound demand caused by the spread of COVID-19 and sluggish personal consumption of some cosmetics and OTC drugs. At the same time, demand for infection-control products such as masks and disinfectant and hygiene products, as well as products associated with stay-at-home consumption, remained firm due to new lifestyles and changes in consumption patterns.」

「Demand for daily necessities, which are essential goods, remained solid. In particular, demand for products related to infection prevention and stay-at-home consumption remained firm.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which the company's business is primarily engaged, the business was affected not only by the consumption tax increase but also by the subsequent loss of inbound demand and restrictions on domestic consumption resulting from the spread of COVID-19. However, demand for daily necessities, which are essential goods, remained firm, and demand for infection-prevention products rose sharply, so the impact on the industry remained smaller than that on other industries.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, demand temporarily declined due to the consumption tax increase. The effects of successive natural disasters, record warm winter weather, and higher labor and logistics costs remained, but domestic demand for higher-priced, high-value-added products remained solid. In addition, amid growing momentum for work-style reform, interest in improving labor productivity through operational efficiency continued to increase.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which the company's business is primarily engaged, there were signs of rush demand ahead of the consumption tax rate increase and a subsequent pullback in purchases. Although the effects of successive record natural disasters and reduced purchases by resellers following tighter regulation under China's E-Commerce Law remained, domestic demand for high-priced, high-value-added products continued to be firm.」

「At the same time, the difficult environment continued due to natural disasters and unfavorable weather, a decline in purchases by resellers following the tightening of regulations under China's E-Commerce Law, which took effect on 1 January 2019, the declining birthrate and aging population, persistently intense in-store sales competition, changes in consumer purchasing channels, including the expansion of online sales, and higher labor and logistics costs.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, a moderate recovery trend continued, including a recovery in personal consumption.」

「Although the Japanese economy temporarily declined due to the effects of natural disasters and other factors during the cumulative second quarter, it remained on a moderate recovery trend against a backdrop of improved corporate earnings and employment conditions. In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, the recovery trend in personal consumption continued from October onward.」

「Personal consumption recovered against a backdrop of improving employment and income conditions, and remained on a moderate recovery trend.」

「At the same time, the difficult environment continued due to the declining birthrate and aging population, persistently intense in-store sales competition, changes in consumer purchasing channels, including the expansion of online sales, and higher labor and logistics costs.」

「At the same time, the difficult environment continued due to the declining birthrate and aging population, persistently intense in-store sales competition, changes in consumer purchasing channels, including the expansion of online sales, and higher labor and logistics costs.」

「At the same time, the difficult environment continued due to the declining birthrate and aging population, persistently intense in-store sales competition, changes in consumer purchasing channels, including the expansion of online sales, and higher labor and logistics costs.」

「The general consumer goods distribution industry continued to face a difficult environment due to the declining birthrate and aging population, persistently intense competition for in-store sales, changes in consumer purchasing channels including the expansion of online sales, and rising labor and logistics costs. At the same time, inbound demand, meaning demand from foreign tourists visiting Japan, and domestic demand for high-priced, high-value-added products remained strong.」

「In the general consumer goods distribution industry, in which our business is primarily involved, drugstore openings increased significantly. Discount products promoted on price sold well, while sales of higher-priced, high-value-added products also remained strong.」

「In the domestic market, personal consumption continued to recover. The general consumer goods distribution industry, our company's core target market, remained strong, particularly in markets for daily necessities and cosmetics, OTC medicines and other products, supported by an increase in drugstore openings.」