The Overseas Spread of Sushi Culture and Development of Overseas Sales Networks

「By region, in North America, the popularity of Japanese food, the expansion of Japanese companies and mechanization and labor-saving initiatives remained at high levels. The effect of sushi robots for in-store food preparation at major supermarket chains, introduced from the latter half of the previous consolidated fiscal year, was limited compared with initial expectations. However, the introduction of onigiri forming machines for major takeaway chains as the onigiri market expanded contributed to an increase in North American sales.」

「By region, in North America, the popularity of Japanese food, the expansion of Japanese companies and mechanization and labor-saving initiatives remained at high levels. The introduction of sushi robots for in-store food preparation at major supermarket chains, which began in the latter half of the previous consolidated fiscal year, and the introduction of onigiri forming machines for major takeaway chains as the onigiri market expanded contributed to results. However, North American sales declined because the timing of the introductions was later than initially expected and due to the effect of intercompany eliminations in consolidation.」

「Overseas, although uncertainty persisted amid inflation, monetary tightening and prolonged geopolitical risks related to the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, product demand expanded due to the increasing overseas expansion of Japanese companies in the foodservice and retail industries, ongoing labor-saving initiatives in response to worsening labor shortages and rising labor costs, and the growing popularity of Japanese food. By region, in East Asia, sales of large machines for food factories increased as rice-based food expanded in the Mongolian market, but sales fell below those of the previous consolidated fiscal year due to the cancellation and postponement of businesses’ capital investment plans amid the sluggish Chinese economy. In Southeast Asia, product demand increased, particularly among Japanese companies, despite the impact of the Chinese economy, and results remained broadly in line with the previous consolidated fiscal year. In North America, product demand expanded as the popularity of Japanese food and the expansion of Japanese companies accelerated, while mechanization and labor-saving initiatives remained at high levels. The introduction of sushi robots for in-store food preparation at major supermarket chains, beginning in the third quarter, and the introduction of onigiri forming machines at major takeaway chains from the fourth quarter, driven by the expanding onigiri market, also contributed. In Europe, although the impact on businesses of higher energy prices and supply concerns related to the situation in Ukraine persisted, product demand moved toward recovery as a result of efforts since the previous consolidated fiscal year to develop demand among local businesses and support distributors. The effect of price revisions, as in Japan, also contributed, and overseas sales exceeded those of the previous consolidated fiscal year.」

「Overseas, although uncertainty persisted amid inflation, monetary tightening and prolonged geopolitical risks related to the situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, product demand expanded due to the increasing overseas expansion of Japanese companies in the foodservice and retail industries, ongoing labor-saving initiatives in response to worsening labor shortages and rising labor costs, and the growing popularity of Japanese food. By region, in East and Southeast Asia, the cancellation and postponement of businesses’ capital investment plans continued amid the sluggish Chinese economy. However, sales of large machines for food factories, driven by the expansion of rice-based food in the Mongolian market, contributed to results, which remained broadly in line with the same period of the previous year. In North America, product demand expanded as the popularity of Japanese food and the expansion of Japanese companies accelerated, while mechanization and labor-saving initiatives remained at high levels. In Europe, although the impact on businesses of higher energy prices and supply concerns related to the situation in Ukraine persisted, product demand moved toward recovery as a result of efforts since the previous consolidated fiscal year to develop demand among local businesses. The effect of price revisions, as in Japan, also contributed, and overseas sales exceeded those of the same period of the previous year.」

「Overseas, although mechanization and labor-saving initiatives continued in response to worsening labor shortages and rising labor costs in the foodservice and retail industries, businesses’ appetite for capital investment weakened against a backdrop of inflation, monetary tightening and geopolitical risks related to the situation in Ukraine. By region, product demand remained solid in East and Southeast Asia as foodservice demand continued to recover and more Japanese companies expanded overseas. Product demand also remained solid in North America amid continued mechanization and labor-saving initiatives. In Europe, sales declined as the impact on businesses of higher energy prices and worsening supply concerns related to the situation in Ukraine persisted, resulting in the cancellation and postponement of capital investment plans. Consequently, overseas sales fell below those of the previous consolidated fiscal year.」

「Overseas, although mechanization and labor-saving initiatives continued in response to worsening labor shortages and rising labor costs in the foodservice and retail industries, businesses’ appetite for capital investment weakened against a backdrop of inflation, monetary tightening and geopolitical risks related to the situation in Ukraine. By region, product demand remained solid in East and Southeast Asia as foodservice demand continued to recover and more Japanese companies expanded overseas. In Europe, sales declined due to the cancellation and postponement of capital investment plans, as the impact on businesses of higher energy prices and worsening supply concerns related to the situation in Ukraine persisted.」

「Overseas, although mechanization and labor-saving initiatives continued in response to worsening labor shortages and rising labor costs in the foodservice and retail industries, businesses’ appetite for capital investment weakened against a backdrop of inflation, monetary tightening and geopolitical risks related to the situation in Ukraine. By region, product demand remained solid in East and Southeast Asia as foodservice demand continued to recover and more Japanese companies expanded overseas. In Europe, sales declined due to the cancellation and postponement of capital investment plans, as the impact on businesses of higher energy prices and worsening supply concerns related to the situation in Ukraine persisted.」

「Overseas, although mechanization and labor-saving initiatives continued in response to worsening labor shortages and rising labor costs in the foodservice and retail industries, product demand declined as inflation, monetary tightening and geopolitical risks related to the situation in Ukraine weakened businesses’ appetite for capital investment. By region, product demand expanded in East and Southeast Asia as foodservice demand continued to recover and more Japanese companies expanded overseas. However, in Europe, the impact on businesses of higher energy prices and worsening supply concerns related to the situation in Ukraine persisted. Product demand declined due to the cancellation and postponement of capital investment plans, and overseas sales fell below those of the same quarter of the previous year.」

「Overseas, although recession risks increased, particularly in Europe and North America, amid inflation and monetary tightening, product demand remained solid as mechanization accelerated in response to worsening labor shortages and rising labor costs in the foodservice and retail industries.」

「By region, product demand expanded as foodservice demand recovered in Southeast Asia, while demand for sushi robots from foodservice operators and supermarkets in North America remained solid. Overseas sales exceeded those of the same quarter of the previous year.」

「Overseas, the trend toward mechanization, replacing human labor with machinery, accelerated further due to worsening labor shortages and rising labor costs in the foodservice and retail industries, and product demand expanded. By region, product demand expanded as foodservice demand recovered in Southeast Asia, while increased demand for sushi robots from foodservice operators and supermarkets in North America made a significant contribution. Domestic sales were ¥4,189 million, up 23.6% year on year, and overseas sales were ¥2,162 million, up 19.4%.」

「Overseas, the trend toward mechanization, replacing human labor with machinery, continued to accelerate due to worsening labor shortages and rising labor costs in the foodservice and retail industries, and product demand expanded. By region, demand for sushi robots from foodservice operators and supermarkets, particularly in North America, continued to grow, and overseas sales exceeded those of the same quarter of the previous year.」

「Overseas sales were ¥3,836 million, up 72.7% year on year.」

「By region, demand for sushi robots from foodservice operators and supermarkets in North America and Europe continued to expand significantly, and overseas sales substantially exceeded those of the same quarter of the previous year.」

「Overseas, economic activity continued moving toward normalization, while labor shortages intensified and demand for labor-saving solutions increased further. By region, demand for sushi robots from foodservice operators and supermarkets expanded significantly in North America and Europe, and overseas sales substantially exceeded those of the same quarter of the previous year.」

「Overseas, as countries, particularly those with rising vaccination rates, moved toward normalizing economic activity, labor shortages became less severe and demand for mechanization to address labor shortages increased further. By region, sales of sushi robots to foodservice operators and supermarkets expanded significantly, particularly in East Asia, North America and Europe, and overseas sales substantially exceeded those of the same quarter of the previous year.」

「By domestic and overseas sales, domestic sales were ¥5,401 million, up 3.8% year on year, and overseas sales were ¥1,534 million, down 10.1%. In the first quarter, overseas sales were significantly affected by lockdowns, restrictions on going out and travel restrictions introduced amid the spread of COVID-19, as well as logistics disruptions and weaker capital investment appetite among major customers, particularly foodservice and retail businesses handling Japanese food. From the second quarter onward, economic activity gradually resumed and sales in North America, Europe and East Asia moved toward recovery. However, the significant impact of sluggish sales in Southeast Asia in the first and second quarters caused overseas sales to fall below the same quarter of the previous year.」

「By domestic and overseas sales, domestic sales were ¥3,333 million, down 5.2% year on year, and overseas sales were ¥950 million, down 16.6%. Overseas sales in the first quarter were significantly affected by COVID-19, but in the second quarter, economic activity gradually resumed and sales moved toward recovery. However, overseas sales fell below the cumulative total for the same period of the previous year due to sluggish sales in Asia.」

「Overseas sales fell substantially below the year-earlier quarter as many countries imposed lockdowns, restrictions on movement and travel restrictions, disrupting logistics networks and reducing capital-investment appetite among key customers, particularly food-service and retail businesses handling Japanese food. Sales declined especially in Asia.」

「Overseas sales were ¥2,182 million, up 0.4% year on year. Although sales in North America remained firm, sales in Asia fell below those of the previous consolidated fiscal year due to factors including geopolitical instability and the spread of COVID-19, resulting in a slight increase from the previous consolidated fiscal year.」

「We will deepen our presence in the 3 key markets of North America, Asia and Europe and create a fourth market, including the Middle East.」

「Domestic sales were ¥3,516 million, up 22.6% year on year, while overseas sales were ¥1,139 million, up 6.1%. Domestic sales exceeded the year-earlier quarter as replacement sales of sushi robots to existing customers in the core rice-processing machinery business and sales of newly developed large-scale machines remained firm, while demand ahead of the consumption-tax increase exceeded expectations. Overseas sales increased slightly year on year, as firm sales in Asia and Oceania were offset by sales in North America falling below the previous fiscal year's level.」

「In overseas markets, we have worked to promote washoku culture and develop new customers in untapped regions.」

「Overseas sales increased by ¥135 million from the previous consolidated fiscal year to ¥2,174 million, as sales remained firm, mainly in Asia and North America.」

「Overseas, we participated in large-scale international exhibitions to promote sushi culture worldwide and achieved smooth expansion with overseas distributors.」

「Overseas, we participated in large-scale international exhibitions to promote sushi culture worldwide and achieved smooth expansion with overseas distributors.」

「Overseas, we have worked with overseas distributors to participate in exhibitions and conduct other activities to promote rice-based food culture worldwide.」

「We believe that our overseas business will expand further by working with MGCP to develop operations in the Middle East as a new pillar of our overseas markets, following North America, Asia and Europe.」

「Overseas, we participated in large-scale international exhibitions in the United States, Brazil, the UAE, Hong Kong and other locations, working to promote sushi culture and the Company's machinery.」

「Overseas, we participated in large-scale international exhibitions to promote sushi culture worldwide and achieved smooth expansion with overseas distributors.」

「③ Strengthening the marketing structure to accelerate overseas expansion Against the backdrop of washoku's registration as an Intangible Cultural Heritage and the increase in visitors to Japan, rice-based foods such as sushi and rice balls are gaining recognition worldwide, and the market is expected to expand. To accurately capture these market changes and promote rice-based food culture, we will advance high-quality marketing activities while increasing personnel at the Company and its overseas subsidiaries and strengthening close cooperation with distributors.」

「Overseas, we participated in large-scale international exhibitions to promote sushi culture worldwide and achieved smooth expansion with overseas distributors.」

「Overseas, we participated in large-scale international exhibitions to promote sushi culture worldwide and achieved smooth expansion with overseas distributors.」

「Overseas, we participated in large-scale international exhibitions to promote sushi culture worldwide and achieved smooth expansion with overseas distributors.」