Expanding sales through the launch of new products in the Lifestyle Equipment business

「Demand for the core low-temperature storage units remained sluggish due to falling rice prices and higher material costs, compounded by unfavorable weather, and sales struggled. Meanwhile, sales of food-processing machinery exceeded the previous year's results as capital investment in the overseas baking and confectionery industries remained strong. As a result, revenue declined 10.4% year on year to ¥2.717 billion.」

「Although orders for large digital signage remained strong, sales fell below the previous year's level because more projects scheduled for revenue recognition from the third quarter onward were carried as order backlog.」

「Demand driven by higher rice prices continued to increase. Sales of rice-related products, including the core low-temperature storage units, refrigerated rice storage bins and rice mills, remained strong and significantly exceeded the previous year's results.」

「Sales of construction safety equipment fell below the previous fiscal year's level due to intensified price competition.」

「Demand driven by higher rice prices continued. Sales of the core low-temperature storage units, as well as rice-related agricultural materials and consumer products such as refrigerated rice storage bins and rice mills, remained strong and exceeded the previous year's results. Mixer sales grew sharply on the resumption of corporate capital investment and an increase in large orders from existing customers.」

「Meanwhile, rice-related products such as refrigerated rice storage bins and rice mills performed well, driven by stronger consumer demand for rice storage following the rice shortage. Sales of audio-related products increased on orders from specific customers, while sales of mixers grew on higher orders for government projects. Food-processing machinery remained strong as capital investment recovered and economic activity progressed in overseas markets, with sales exceeding the previous year's results. As a result, revenue increased 9.4% year on year to ¥3.041 billion.」

「As a result of focusing on capturing B2B demand, audio-related products increased sales on orders for products for specific customers, while mixers increased sales on higher orders for government projects. Food-processing machines also maintained strong performance as capital investment recovered and economic activity progressed in overseas markets, with sales exceeding the previous year's level. As a result, net sales rose 11.7% year on year to ¥1,319 million.」

「Sales of consumer appliances, including the core low-temperature storage units, refrigerated rice storage bins and mochi makers, remained weak as demand showed no signs of recovery. Meanwhile, sales of audio-related products increased on orders from specific customers. Sales of food-processing machinery also exceeded the previous year as economic activity recovered in overseas markets.」

「Household appliances such as the mainstay low-temperature storage units, rice-cake makers and refrigerated rice bins performed poorly as demand showed no signs of recovery. Meanwhile, audio-related products increased sales on orders for products for specific customers. Food-processing machines also exceeded the previous year's level as economic activity recovered in overseas markets. As a result, net sales rose 2.6% year on year to ¥4,911 million.」

「Sales of the mainstay low-temperature storage units remained around the previous year's level, while household appliances such as refrigerated rice bins and smokeless roasters performed poorly as demand showed no signs of recovery. Audio-related products also saw lower sales due to fewer orders for products for specific customers than in the same period of the previous year. Meanwhile, food-processing machines exceeded the previous year's level as market conditions recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic in overseas markets. As a result, net sales rose 2.2% year on year to ¥2,778 million.」

「Sales of the mainstay low-temperature storage units for farmers and refrigerated rice bins remained around the previous year's level, while household products such as electric steamers performed poorly as demand showed no signs of recovery. Audio-related products saw a substantial decline in sales due to fewer orders for products for specific customers than in the previous year. Meanwhile, food-processing machines exceeded the previous year's level as economic activity recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic in overseas markets.」

「Sales of consumer products grew in a sluggish market, driven by the new dual-sided hot plate and waterless electric cooker. Sales of mochi makers also increased as production at overseas sites progressed smoothly. Audio-related products grew on the introduction of new products for specific customers. As a result, revenue was ¥4.787 billion, compared with ¥4.469 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.」

「Consumer products such as electric pressure cookers performed well in a sluggish market, driven by higher sales of the new dual-sided hot plate and waterless electric cooker. Sales of commercial cooking equipment used in restaurant kitchens and elsewhere, as well as audio-related products, also increased through sales to specific customers. Food-processing machinery, however, fell below the previous year due to the impact of lockdowns in overseas markets and other factors.」

「The mainstay low-temperature storage units for farmers and refrigerated rice bins fell below the previous year's level amid a lack of demand recovery and the cancellation of trade shows due to the impact of COVID-19. Household products such as electric pressure cookers performed poorly as the market showed no signs of recovery, while compact rice polishers and bread makers grew. Audio-related products also increased sales, supported by strong sales of new products for specific customers. Meanwhile, food-processing machines fell below the previous year's level due to the impact of lockdown measures in overseas markets.」

「As a result, revenue from the Life & Support business was ¥5.651 billion, down 17.5% from the previous fiscal year.」

「Consumer products such as electric pressure cookers performed poorly as the stay-at-home demand that had been pronounced in the previous year began to level off. Sales of mochi makers and refrigerated rice storage bins fell sharply as production at the overseas site in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was restricted by the lockdown. In addition, sales of audio-related products struggled in the absence of the special demand for new products seen in the same period of the previous year. As a result, revenue declined 17.2% year on year to ¥4.469 billion.」

「The core low-temperature storage units for farmers remained weak due to the cancellation of trade shows following the impact of COVID-19 and the lack of a repeat of the previous year's strong performance. General household products such as electric pressure cookers also remained weak as the notably strong demand for home-based consumption seen the previous year eased. Production of refrigerated rice containers at the overseas site in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, was restricted by lockdown measures, resulting in substantially delayed deliveries. Audio-related products also struggled to grow sales in the absence of the special demand for new products seen in the same period of the previous year.」

「Electric pressure cookers and refrigerated rice bins for general households performed weakly as the stay-at-home demand that had been prominent the previous year showed signs of easing, while audio-related products performed steadily following the launch of new products such as personal sound amplifiers.」

「Rice polishers, smokeless roasters, electric pressure cookers and refrigerated rice bins for household use also performed well, mainly through online sales, as stay-at-home demand increased, while audio-related products such as wireless TV speakers also increased sales.」

「Refrigerated rice bins, smokeless roasters and electric pressure cookers for household use also performed well, mainly through online sales, as stay-at-home demand increased, while audio-related products also increased sales following the launch of new products. As a result, net sales rose 16.2% year on year to ¥5,399 million.」

「Microwave stands, small refrigerated rice containers and bread makers for general households performed well, mainly through internet sales, as demand for home-based consumption increased. Audio-related products also grew following the launch of new products.」

「Microwave oven stands and bread makers for general households performed well, mainly through online sales, while sales of audio-related products grew following the launch of new products. Although affected by COVID-19, the food-processing machinery and mixer businesses secured sales at roughly the previous year's level. As a result, revenue rose 19.1% year on year to ¥1.207 billion.」

「Although products for general households remained weak as demand for mochi makers faltered, the newly launched electric pressure cooker and smokeless roaster performed well and contributed to sales. The newly expanded businesses for mixers and food-processing machines also remained firm. As a result, sales for the Life & Support business as a whole amounted to ¥5.9 billion, up 6.3% from the previous fiscal year.」

「Low-temperature storage units, a core product for farmers, and mochi makers and rice polishers for general households remained in a difficult environment in line with the cooling trend in consumer spending. Meanwhile, the black garlic makers launched in the previous fiscal year and the electric pressure cookers and smokeless roasters launched this fiscal year performed well by meeting customer needs. Food-processing machines and mixers, where the Group entered the market in the previous fiscal year, also performed steadily. As a result, revenue rose 8.7% year on year to ¥4,647 million.」

「The black garlic maker launched last fiscal year and the electric pressure cooker and smokeless roaster launched this fiscal year performed well by meeting customer needs. The food-processing machines and mixers introduced the previous fiscal year also remained firm. As a result, sales increased 12.8% year on year to ¥2.599 billion.」

「The black garlic maker and compact chilled rice container launched in the previous fiscal year performed well by meeting customer needs, while the food-processing machinery and mixers business entered in the previous fiscal year also remained solid. As a result, net sales increased 33.7% year on year to ¥1,014 million.」

「The newly launched small refrigerated rice containers and black garlic makers contributed to sales. Audio-related products such as wireless TV speakers also grew, while the businesses for mixers and food-processing machines, which the company had newly expanded into, remained firm. As a result, sales in the Lifestyle Equipment business amounted to ¥5.55 billion, up 48.3% from the previous fiscal year.」

「Core products for farmers, including low-temperature storage units and chilled rice bins, and microwave oven stands for general households remained under pressure as consumption trends weakened. Meanwhile, newly launched small chilled rice bins, black garlic makers, and ear-related products such as wireless TV speakers performed well, while newly entered food-processing machinery also contributed to sales growth. As a result, revenue rose 40.4% year on year to ¥4.275 billion.」

「Newly launched small refrigerated rice containers and black garlic makers, as well as ear-related products such as wireless TV speakers, performed well and drove sales growth. As a result, sales increased 38.3% year on year to ¥2.304 billion.」

「Core products for farmers, including low-temperature storage units and chilled rice bins, and microwave oven stands for general households remained under pressure as consumption trends weakened. By contrast, ear-related products such as wireless TV speakers performed well and offset the decline in core products. As a result, revenue rose 29.8% year on year to ¥759 million.」

「Products for farmers, particularly low-temperature agricultural produce storage units and refrigerated rice containers, struggled due to external factors including prolonged rain, low temperatures and typhoons. Meanwhile, cooking appliances for general households grew after the small rice mill and bread maker launched this fiscal year gained market acceptance. As a result, sales for the Lifestyle Equipment business as a whole amounted to ¥3.743 billion, down 1.2% from the previous fiscal year.」

「The core products for farmers, including low-temperature storage units and refrigerated rice containers, as well as microwave stands for general households, remained weak in line with the effects of adverse weather and weaker consumer demand. Sales volumes of the newly launched small rice mill and bread maker grew, particularly at large retailers such as consumer electronics stores and home improvement centers, but were not enough to offset the decline in core products. As a result, sales declined 4.9% year on year to ¥3.046 billion.」

「Meanwhile, sales of the compact rice mill and bread maker launched this fiscal year grew steadily. As a result, net sales increased 0.2% year on year to ¥1,666 million.」

「Consumer sentiment failed to improve, and difficult conditions continued for both products for farmers and products for general households. Low-temperature storage units for farmers remained broadly at the previous year's level, but chilled rice bins remained sluggish due to the downturn in the agricultural machinery industry. Microwave oven stands for general households also struggled amid the weak market, resulting in revenue declining 5.4% year on year to ¥584 million.」

「Cooking appliances for general households struggled as the overall market contracted, but the mini mochi maker launched this fiscal year gained market acceptance and grew. As a result, sales for the Lifestyle Equipment business as a whole amounted to ¥3.788 billion, up 2.4% from the previous fiscal year.」

「Although kitchen appliances for general households struggled as the overall market contracted, the newly launched mini mochi-making machine offset the weakness, and revenue rose 0.6% year on year to ¥3.204 billion.」

「While products for farmers, including the refrigerated rice milling machine launched last fiscal year, struggled after the initial launch impact had run its course, sales of the core low-temperature agricultural produce storage units and refrigerated rice containers grew due to the extremely hot weather. As a result, sales increased 4.2% year on year to ¥1.663 billion.」