Intensifying competition, including from the prepared-meal and other sectors

「Operating-related costs continue to rise, including persistently high food costs, higher labor costs associated with wage increases, increased recruitment expenses to secure personnel, and surging store construction and equipment costs. The business environment remains difficult because repeated price increases also raise concerns about a decline in customer numbers.」

「As high prices for food and other goods persist, personal consumption is becoming more oriented toward saving.」

「Changes in the surrounding environment after opening a location, or competition with foodservice businesses and other companies in the same industry, such as family restaurants and convenience stores, if it arises」

「Consumers are increasingly inclined to economize because of prolonged high prices, and personal consumption has remained somewhat sluggish.」

「The operating environment remains difficult because of increases in raw material costs, utilities, labor costs and recruitment expenses, as well as consumers' stronger inclination to economize.」

「There are numerous risks to the operating environment, including changes in the labor environment such as telework, intensified competition with the prepared-food market following the introduction of takeout and delivery, and higher logistics and energy costs. The extremely difficult environment continues.」

「Competition with the prepared-food market continues to intensify further, and the operating environment remains extremely difficult because consumers are refraining from going out and social distancing has reduced seating capacity, among other factors.」

「Although economic activity has begun to resume since the state of emergency was lifted, and the company is working to expand its lunch menu and strengthen its takeout offerings, competition with the prepared-food market continues to intensify. The operating environment remains extremely difficult because social distancing has reduced the number of seats available, among other factors.」

「In the foodservice industry, consumers remain strongly inclined to economize, and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats continues to intensify.」

「Although personal consumption is gradually recovering, consumers remain strongly inclined to economize, and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats continues to intensify.」

「In the foodservice industry, consumer sentiment is gradually recovering, but consumers remain strongly inclined to economize, and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats continues to intensify.」

「Against a backdrop of changes in social structures, including the declining birthrate, an aging population and work-style reforms, and a gradual increase in household income, changes in consumer behavior resulting from increasingly diverse preferences and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats are also intensifying.」

「Against a backdrop of changes in social structures, including the declining birthrate, an aging population and work-style reforms, and a gradual increase in household income, changes in consumer behavior resulting from increasingly diverse preferences and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats are also intensifying.」

「Against a backdrop of changes in social structures, including the declining birthrate, an aging population and work-style reforms, and a gradual increase in household income, changes in consumer behavior resulting from increasingly diverse preferences and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats are also intensifying.」

「Changes in consumer behavior resulting from increasingly diverse preferences and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats are also intensifying.」

「As the polarization between price-conscious consumers and those seeking better products becomes more pronounced, competition among companies in different industries, driven by these combined factors, is also intensifying.」

「Against a backdrop of changes in social structures, including the declining birthrate, an aging population and work-style reforms, and consumers' stronger focus on protecting their household finances, changes in consumer behavior resulting from increasingly diverse preferences and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats are also intensifying.」

「Against a backdrop of changes in social structures, including work-style reforms, and consumers' stronger focus on protecting their household finances, changes in consumer behavior resulting from increasingly diverse preferences and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats are also intensifying.」

「In the foodservice industry, changes in consumer behavior resulting from increasingly diverse preferences and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats are intensifying.」

「Competition with other industries is intensifying, in addition to competition among foodservice companies.」

「In the foodservice industry, changes in consumer behavior resulting from increasingly diverse preferences and competition to attract customers across industries and business formats are intensifying.」

「In the foodservice industry, dining options, including prepared foods, are becoming more diverse, while competition to attract customers among foodservice-related companies and with companies in other industries is also intensifying.」