Risk of Reduced Demand and Constraints on Store Operations Due to the Spread of COVID-19
First written in FY2020-Q3. 8 of 16 entries say "Softened", first in FY2023-Q1. Latest entry: FY2024.
Alpen moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2020, the same year as the typical company in this theme.
The whole theme swung hardest in 2020: 69 of 91 companies on the "Worse" side.
7 other companies' latest entry also says "Softened".
- FY2024SoftenedAnnual report
「The domestic economy continued to recover during the fiscal year against a backdrop of economic normalization following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and expanding inbound demand.」
As economic normalization progressed following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, wording concerning operating and demand constraints caused by the spread of infections was further softened. - FY2024-Q3SoftenedAnnual report
「The business environment during the third quarter of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024 (1 July 2023 to 31 March 2024) showed a recovering domestic economy against a backdrop of economic normalization following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and expanding inbound demand.」
As economic normalization progressed following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, wording concerning operating and demand constraints caused by the spread of infections was further softened. - FY2024-Q2SoftenedAnnual report
「The business environment during the second quarter of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024 (1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023) showed a recovering domestic economy as normalization progressed following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and inbound demand expanded.」
As socioeconomic activity normalized and the domestic economy recovered following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, wording concerning operating and demand constraints caused by COVID-19 was further softened. - FY2024-Q1SoftenedAnnual report
「The business environment during the first quarter of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2024 (1 July 2023 to 30 September 2023) showed a gradual recovery in the domestic economy as progress was made toward the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.」
As progress was made toward the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the domestic economy entered a gradual recovery trend, wording concerning operating and demand constraints caused by the pandemic was further softened. - FY2023SoftenedAnnual report
「The business environment during the third quarter of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2023 (1 July 2022 to 31 March 2023) showed a gradual recovery in the domestic economy as restrictions on activity and border-control measures were eased in preparation for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.」
As restrictions on activity and border-control measures were eased and socioeconomic activity normalized, wording concerning operating and demand constraints caused by COVID-19 was further softened. - FY2023-Q3SoftenedAnnual report
「The business environment during the third quarter of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2023 (1 July 2022 to 31 March 2023) showed a gradual recovery in the domestic economy as restrictions on activity and border-control measures were eased in preparation for the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.」
As restrictions on activity and border-control measures were eased and the domestic economy gradually recovered, wording concerning operating and demand constraints caused by COVID-19 was further softened. - FY2023-Q2SoftenedAnnual report
「The business environment during the second quarter of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2023 (1 July 2022 to 31 December 2022) showed a gradual recovery in the domestic economy as restrictions on activity and border-control measures were eased.」
As restrictions on activity and border-control measures were eased and the domestic economy gradually recovered, wording concerning operating and demand constraints caused by COVID-19 was further softened. - FY2023-Q1SoftenedAnnual report
「The business environment during the first quarter of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2023 (1 July 2022 to 30 September 2022) continued to move toward normalization of socioeconomic activity, as large-scale restrictions on activity such as those imposed previously were not introduced despite the renewed spread of COVID-19.」
Although infections spread again, large-scale restrictions on activity were not imposed and socioeconomic activity continued to normalize, so the wording concerning operating constraints in the previous year was partly softened. However, the impact of curtailed school sports activities during the seventh wave remained. - FY2022WorsenedAnnual report
「Although further demand recovery is expected, the situation remains uncertain because COVID-19 cases have again reached high levels amid the seventh wave and rising prices for goods and services are affecting consumer activity.」
Although expectations for demand recovery were expressed, the renewed increase in cases during the seventh wave and rising prices for goods and services were identified as new concerns, and uncertainty over infection-related risks has continued. - FY2022-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「The business environment during the third quarter of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022 (1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022) showed temporary signs of recovery as vaccinations progressed. However, a sharp increase in infections from a new variant strain after the start of the year led to renewed restrictions on daily activities, causing the recovery to lose momentum.」
The temporary recovery after vaccinations lost momentum as infections from a new variant strain surged and restrictions on daily activities were reintroduced, strengthening the business impact of the spread of COVID-19 once again. - FY2022-Q2A lull in infections and recovering demand coexisted with concerns over variant strainsAnnual report
「In the sporting-goods retail industry, school sports activities that had been curtailed under the state of emergency gradually resumed, and sports demand, which had fallen, showed some recovery. However, the business environment remained difficult to navigate, as continued high temperatures weakened trends in autumn and winter merchandise.」
Although the impact on demand from curtailed school sports activities under the state of emergency remained, school sports activities and sports demand recovered after the declaration was lifted. The emergence of new variant strains was also noted in relation to infection trends. - FY2022-Q1MaterialisedAnnual report
「The business environment during the first quarter of the fiscal year ended 30 June 2022 (1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021) remained difficult. Although vaccinations against COVID-19 gradually progressed, the number of new infections reached a record high as variant strains spread, and the resulting issuance of states of emergency in various regions had a significant impact.」
The spread of variant strains and the issuance of states of emergency continued to affect the business environment. They also contributed to weak demand through restrictions on daily activities and the curtailment of school sports activities. - FY2021-Q3MaterialisedAnnual report
「The sporting-goods retail industry was affected by the cancellation or scaling back of school sports activities and various sporting events. At the same time, there were instances in which demand for sports and outdoor products expanded as health awareness rose and lifestyles changed.」
While school sports activities and sporting events continued to be canceled or scaled back as COVID-19 spread, the company also noted instances in which demand for sports and outdoor products expanded against a backdrop of heightened health awareness and changes in lifestyles. - FY2021-Q2Accounting assumptions reviewedAnnual report
「Although the end of the COVID-19 pandemic was not expected for the time being and market stagnation was expected to continue, the company made accounting estimates, including the recoverability of future cash flows in impairment testing of fixed assets, based on the assumption that no large-scale store closures would occur and that new infections would gradually subside from spring onward.」
The company reviewed its assumptions regarding the timing of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, market stagnation and the possibility of large-scale store closures, and reflected the changes in accounting estimates, including impairment testing of fixed assets. - FY2021-Q1MaterialisedAnnual report
「The sporting-goods retail industry was affected by the cancellation or scaling back of school events and various sporting events. At the same time, there were instances in which demand for sports and outdoor products expanded as health awareness rose and lifestyles changed.」
The cancellation and scaling back of school events and sporting events actually occurred as COVID-19 spread, and the impact on demand continued. At the same time, the company noted instances in which demand for sports and outdoor products expanded due to heightened health awareness and changes in lifestyles. - FY2020-Q3MaterialisedAnnual report
「Depending on the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, sports-goods demand could continue to decline as a result of school closures and requests to refrain from going out, while customer traffic could remain lower because stores are closed or operating for shorter hours. In this case, the Group's performance could be affected.」
Declines in demand and customer traffic due to school closures, requests to refrain from going out, and store closures or shorter operating hours amid the spread of COVID-19 were disclosed for the first time as additional business risks. The main text also described the postponement or cancellation of sporting events and difficult sales conditions.