Review of the Procurement and Logistics Structure through Direct Partnerships with Production Regions

「We will shift from a model in which our group owns the entire supply chain to a network-based business model that uses cooperation with production areas, fishermen, processors and other external partners, based on 綜合食品株式会社, which handles the receiving of goods at Toyosu Market.」

「In January 2025, the company partnered with a fixed-net fisherman in Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, and began purchasing daily all fresh fish caught in fixed nets, from popular fish such as horse mackerel to low-use and underutilized species such as frigate tuna and rudderfish.」

「As of 31 December 2024, the SANKO Fleet comprised 4 vessels, including company-owned vessels, with a monthly catch target of 3 tons. In response to its strong reception from customers, the company will operate the PDCA cycle and continue expanding the initiative and developing a sustainable system intended to benefit both fishermen and customers.」

「As of 30 June 2024, the SANKO Fleet comprised 5 vessels, including company-owned vessels, with a monthly catch target of 3.5 tons. The company will continue expanding the initiative and advancing efforts intended to benefit both fishermen and customers.」

「Last year, the company began an initiative to purchase the entire catch from partner fishermen at a fixed price, regardless of the catch volume, species or market price. This initiative is referred to below as the SANKO Fleet, replacing the previously used name SANKO MEMBERSHIP. As of 31 March 2024, the SANKO Fleet comprised 5 vessels, including company-owned vessels, with a monthly catch target of 3.5 tons.」

「Going forward, the company will expand the SANKO MEMBERSHIP network, form a fleet and advance initiatives intended to benefit both fishermen and customers.」

「In its seafood business, the company began an initiative in September 2023 to purchase the entire catch from fishermen in Shimoda at a fixed price, regardless of the catch volume, species or market price, with the aim of stabilizing and improving the livelihoods of fishing workers. Called SANKO MEMBERSHIP, the initiative uses the company's dedicated vessels to deliver fresh seafood directly to its directly operated stores without passing through multiple distribution stages, and has been very well received by customers.」

「In its seafood business, the company's fishing vessel 辨天丸 departed from Shimoda Port in May 2023 for its first fishing trip, beginning an initiative to deliver the day's catch directly to the company's directly operated stores.」

「Building on its initiatives in Numazu and Hamamatsu, the company made 綜合食品株式会社, one of only 7 primary wholesalers at Toyosu Market, a subsidiary in July 2022, rapidly advancing the establishment of a supply chain linking primary, secondary and tertiary industries. In April 2023, it opened its first seafood retail store, 漁港直送 積極魚食 サカナタベタイ, inside the MEGA Don Quijote Motoyawata store in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture.」

「Building on its initiatives in Numazu and Hamamatsu, the company made 綜合食品株式会社, one of only 7 primary wholesalers at Toyosu Market, a subsidiary in July 2022, rapidly advancing the establishment of a supply chain linking primary, secondary and tertiary industries.」

「In September 2021, the company acquired market bidding rights at Numazu Fish Market, a local wholesale market, and began purchasing directly. It ships fresh fish caught that morning and processed fresh fish products to its directly operated stores, other food-service operators and supermarkets. In November of the same year, it made 株式会社SANKO海商, a seafood wholesaler and processor at Hamamatsu Central Wholesale Market in Shizuoka Prefecture, a subsidiary, beginning collaboration between its seafood business in Numazu and its food-service stores. Building on its initiatives in Numazu and Hamamatsu, the company made 綜合食品株式会社, one of only 7 primary wholesalers at Toyosu Market, a subsidiary in July 2022, rapidly advancing the establishment of a supply chain linking primary, secondary and tertiary industries.」

「In September 2020, the company launched its seafood business through a business partnership with 沼津我入道漁業協同組合. It can now procure directly from fishing operators, including fishing cooperatives and fishermen, and fish markets. In addition, it made 株式会社SANKO海商, a seafood wholesaler and processor in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, a wholly owned subsidiary in November 2021, and 綜合食品株式会社, one of only 7 primary seafood wholesalers at Toyosu Market, located in Koto-ku, Tokyo, a wholly owned subsidiary in July 2022. As an operator of food-service outlets closest to consumers, the company has reached the stage of developing a sixth-sector industrialization model for seafood and a seafood DX platform by drawing on its experience.」

「From September 2021, the company began purchasing fish directly at Numazu Fish Market, a local wholesale market, using its market bidding rights. Through collaboration between the seafood wholesale and processing business of 株式会社SANKO海商, which became a subsidiary in November of the same year, and the seafood business operated in Numazu, it strengthened its product development capabilities. In December of the same year, it also acquired a fishing boat from a member of 我入道漁協 to use as a training vessel and company-operated vessel. The company is building a business portfolio spanning primary through secondary industries and addressing issues facing local producers by becoming more deeply rooted in the community and strengthening relationships of trust.」

「The group will establish a sixth-sector industrialization model for its seafood business that pursues synergies with its existing businesses, with the aim of building a proprietary business portfolio capable of securing earnings without being significantly affected by the COVID-19 crisis.」

「After joining 沼津我入道漁業協同組合 and becoming a member in December 2020, the company built up a track record of corporate sales to food-service and retail operators, in addition to its existing directly operated stores, wholesaling fresh local fish landed in Numazu and processed products.」

「In September 2020, the company entered into a business partnership with 沼津我入道漁業協同組合, the fishing cooperative with the longest history at Numazu Fishing Port in Shizuoka Prefecture, launched its seafood business and began working to strengthen its supply chain and earnings base. As a specific measure under this seafood business project, in November 2020 it opened 沼津我入道漁業協同組合 まるが水産, a "set-meal restaurant where customers can buy fish," in the Numazu Port restaurant district, which is lined with around 40 restaurants and around 30 souvenir shops. The restaurant sells fresh fish caught that morning and auctioned at Numazu Fish Market, as well as set meals and made-to-order dishes. In the same month, it also opened まるがまる 横須賀本店 in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, a full-service sushi and shabu-shabu all-you-can-eat restaurant featuring daily sushi made with expertly selected morning-caught fish delivered from Numazu Port. As a result of these initiatives, the company joined the cooperative and became a member in December of the same year.」

「The company also agreed to enter into a business partnership with 沼津我入道漁業協同組合, the fishing cooperative with the longest history at Numazu Fishing Port in Shizuoka Prefecture, to revitalize Japan's fishing industry and strengthen its supply chain. Going forward, it will work with the cooperative to expand sales channels, including planning and developing ways to use and sell fish from Numazu, selling through its existing stores, including stores operated under management contracts, its boxed-meal business and its online sales site, and selling to retailers and other food-service operators.」

「We are working to establish a procurement and logistics system centered on fresh fish through direct partnerships with primary producers nationwide, without going through wholesale markets or intermediate wholesalers.」