Steady performance in healthcare wear and doctor wear, with growth in patient wear

「The core markets recorded a substantial 11.3% year-on-year decline in the first-quarter consolidated accounting period, but recovered with 10.0% growth in the second-quarter consolidated accounting period as orders for renewal contracts progressed as planned and renewal work began on large contracts carried over from the previous fiscal year. As a result, sales for the interim consolidated accounting period increased 1.4% year on year, continuing the growth recorded in the previous year. In the surrounding markets, surgical wear performed steadily, up 6.4% year on year, while patient wear declined 9.3% as acquiring new contracts remained difficult. As a result, the surrounding markets overall recorded a 4.0% year-on-year decline. Overseas sales increased substantially by 35.0% year on year, helped by contracts in Taiwan carried over from the previous fiscal year and the opening of the Seoul branch.」

「Despite these difficult market conditions, medical wear is both consumable and practical, and the Group's (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries') sales for the consolidated fiscal year increased 3.5% year on year.」

「Despite these difficult market conditions, the market recovered as delayed renewal contracts came through, as medical wear is both consumable and practical. The Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) recorded sales of ¥7,843 million for the interim consolidated accounting period, up 6.1% year on year.」

「The Group's (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries') sales for the consolidated fiscal year declined 4.5% year on year, a difficult result.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group's (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries') sales in the third-quarter consolidated accounting period recovered to approximately the previous year's level, narrowing the cumulative decline to 4.1% year on year. In the core markets, the number of contracts catching up with delayed renewal demand has increased, and sales are recovering. In the surrounding markets, both surgical wear and patient wear returned to sales growth in the third-quarter consolidated accounting period. Overseas markets continued to perform steadily and achieved double-digit growth.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) recorded sales of ¥7,392 million for the cumulative second quarter, down 6.8% year on year, due largely to rush demand ahead of product price revisions in the previous-year period. In the core markets, contracts postponed from the previous fiscal year were brought back on schedule, but difficult market conditions persisted, as in the previous fiscal year, and sales declined 8.6% year on year owing to delays in product selection and price negotiations, which caused month-end timing shifts for renewal contracts. Patient wear in the surrounding markets also recorded lower sales as linen suppliers curbed purchases of materials to address rising costs. Overseas sales, meanwhile, performed steadily and rose 11.3% year on year, partly because sales had declined in the previous fiscal year.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) recorded a 3.2% year-on-year increase in sales for the cumulative first quarter. In the core markets, orders progressed for core healthcare wear, mainly for renewal contracts postponed from the previous fiscal year, but new month-end timing shifts arose amid continued difficult market conditions, limiting growth to 2.1%. The surrounding markets performed steadily, with sales up 6.9%, driven by share gains in patient wear. Meanwhile, overseas sales declined 17.9%, as the small scale of the business makes it highly susceptible to fluctuations in the number of contracts.」

「The Group's (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries') sales for the consolidated fiscal year declined 3.2% year on year, a difficult result.」

「As a result, sales for the cumulative third quarter declined by ¥430 million, or 3.2% year on year.」

「Sales in both the core and surrounding markets increased substantially in the second-quarter consolidated accounting period. As a result, sales rose 12.1% year on year, offsetting the decline in the cumulative first quarter, and cumulative second-quarter sales exceeded the previous year. Sales of the new-concept brand "EARTH SONG" in the core markets were particularly strong and made a significant contribution to sales growth.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) recorded a ¥423 million decline in sales, down 12.5% year on year, for the cumulative first quarter. Because first-quarter cumulative sales account for a relatively small proportion of annual sales, this period is susceptible to fluctuations in sales from the previous-year period. In addition, sales increased substantially in each of the previous two periods, owing to special demand for infection-control products in the period before last and orders for large renewal contracts in the previous-year period. As a result, the core markets were significantly affected, with sales declining 15.3% year on year in the current cumulative first quarter. Patient wear in the surrounding markets, which had expanded steadily, also declined 7.9% year on year, as linen suppliers temporarily curbed purchases of new materials owing to soaring fuel costs for laundry, although demand is now stabilizing.」

「In the core markets, healthcare wear and doctor wear recorded sales growth through the bringing back on schedule of renewal contracts, mainly for high-value-added products, and the acquisition of new contracts. In the surrounding markets, patient wear continued to perform well, following substantial 22.0% growth in the previous fiscal year, with sales up 14.2% in the current fiscal year. Overseas sales also increased 16.7%, driven by the acquisition of large contracts in Taiwan.」

「The core markets were significantly affected in the current fiscal year, resulting in a 5.3% decline in sales, but orders for scheduled renewals and the acquisition of new contracts continued to progress steadily. The surrounding and overseas markets were less affected by the previous fiscal year and performed steadily, with sales growth of 3.6% and 32.6%, respectively.」

「The Group focused on securing orders for scheduled renewals and acquiring new contracts in the core markets, expanding sales of strong-performing patient wear in the surrounding markets, and acquiring large contracts in Taiwan in overseas markets. As a result, the decline in sales was limited to 3.1% year on year. Excluding one-off sales to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in the previous fiscal year and the special factors related to the adoption of accounting standards for revenue recognition, sales increased 1.2% year on year.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) recorded a ¥217 million decline in sales, down 6.1% year on year, for the cumulative first quarter. This was largely due to the one-off impact of ¥315 million in deliveries of infection-control products to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in the previous-year period. Excluding this special-factor revenue, sales increased by ¥97 million, or 3.0% year on year. Most product categories, including core-market healthcare wear and patient wear in the surrounding markets, performed steadily as planned.」

「In the Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries), healthcare wear and doctor wear in the core markets recorded steady sales growth as contracts postponed from the previous fiscal year were steadily renewed and new large contracts were acquired. Patient wear in the surrounding markets also achieved substantial sales growth as the Group expanded its share, including by launching initiatives planned for the previous fiscal year from the current fiscal year, against a backdrop of strong market demand. Meanwhile, large orders for infection-control products from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare declined substantially from the previous fiscal year as shortages at medical sites eased.」

「The Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) maintained steady sales by completing renewal contracts postponed from the previous fiscal year, securing contracts scheduled for the current fiscal year and acquiring new large contracts, mainly in core healthcare wear. Patient wear also recorded substantial sales growth as new initiatives were implemented. As a result, sales for the cumulative third quarter rose 14.2% year on year to a record high for the period.」

「The Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) achieved steady sales growth as renewal contracts that had rolled over from the previous fiscal year were completed for core healthcare wear and doctor wear, in addition to winning new large contracts. Patient wear recorded substantial sales growth as new initiatives were implemented. Surgical wear and utility wear also performed well on increased demand for infection-control products, and the Group made deliveries of such products to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. As a result, sales for the cumulative second quarter increased across all product categories and domestic regions, rising 14.4% year on year to a record high for the period.」

「Core healthcare wear and doctor wear recorded substantial sales growth as renewal contracts postponed from the previous fiscal year were steadily brought back on schedule. Patient wear also began to gain traction as new initiatives that had lagged the previous fiscal year got underway, while surgical wear continued to perform well, particularly ComPel Pack. As a result, sales in the surrounding markets grew by more than double digits. Infection-control products developed and launched in the previous fiscal year also made a significant contribution to sales, including through large deliveries to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Consequently, sales for the cumulative first quarter reached a record high, up 24.6% year on year.」

「Core healthcare wear and doctor wear encountered difficulties in negotiations for renewal contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in pronounced delivery delays and the postponement of many renewal contracts. Although the impact was substantial in the third quarter, resulting in a significant decline in sales, the decline narrowed in the fourth quarter and the business is recovering as delayed contracts were brought back on schedule. Meanwhile, surgical wear delivered steady sales growth as the benefits of reusable products, particularly ComPel Pack, were recognized against a backdrop of shortages of medical supplies. In addition, the infection-control product range developed and launched during the period made a significant contribution to fourth-quarter sales, including through a large order from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.」

「The Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) had been performing steadily, with sales above the previous year through the start of the year. However, changes in market conditions at medical institutions caused by COVID-19 resulted in delivery delays, mainly for core healthcare wear as well as doctor wear and patient wear, leading to a decline in sales.」

「The Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) had been performing steadily, with sales above the previous year through the start of the year. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic caused delivery delays, mainly for core healthcare wear, and sales fell sharply in February alone. As a result, sales for the cumulative second quarter declined 2.5% year on year.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group (the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) recorded a slight 0.8% year-on-year decline in sales for the cumulative first quarter, as solid markets surrounding surgical wear and patient wear were offset by some impact from market disruption on its core healthcare wear business.」

「Although high-value-added products in the core healthcare-wear business performed steadily, some facilities scheduled for renewal in the second half were pushed into the next fiscal year. In addition, the full-scale rollout of patient wear to a new customer was also deferred to the next fiscal year, resulting in a substantial decline in revenue.」

「The Group's revenue for the cumulative third quarter of the consolidated fiscal year declined 4.2% year on year because some healthcare-wear facility renewals shifted between months. Renewals had originally been concentrated in the fourth quarter, and new initiatives involving patient wear have also been decided, so some renewals have shifted into the next fiscal year. Nevertheless, full-year revenue is expected to recover to approximately the previous year's level.」

「Although the second quarter was on a recovery trend compared with the first quarter, there were few facilities scheduled for renewal in the core healthcare-wear business, and the same period of the previous year had recorded substantial growth of 3.8%. As a result, revenue for the cumulative second quarter of the consolidated fiscal year declined 2.5% year on year.」

「The core healthcare-wear, doctor-wear and surgical-wear businesses recorded lower revenue in the third quarter due to market disruption, but turned to recovery in the fourth quarter. Substantial revenue growth in patient wear also contributed, and the consolidated fiscal year again ended with record-high revenue.」

「Although the third quarter of the consolidated fiscal year was generally difficult due to the impact of timing shifts between months caused by the simultaneous revision and the high growth rate in the same period of the previous year, cumulative third-quarter revenue reached a record high.」

「Under its high-value-added product strategy, the Group, comprising the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, exceeded its sales plan and achieved record-high sales. This followed steady revenue growth in the core healthcare-wear business and continued strong performance from patient wear, which posted double-digit growth for the second consecutive period.」

「The Group's revenue for the cumulative first quarter of the consolidated fiscal year increased 7.2% year on year, marking a solid start. The core healthcare-wear and doctor-wear businesses expanded steadily, while patient and surgical wear in adjacent markets recorded substantial revenue growth.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group, comprising the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, exceeded its plan and achieved record-high revenue for the period for a consecutive time. The core healthcare-wear business recorded steady revenue growth, patient wear continued to perform well, and a range of high-value-added new products with strong appeal and advanced functionality drove overall results.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group, comprising the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, achieved record-high revenue for the cumulative third quarter of the consolidated fiscal year. Healthcare wear and surgical wear performed steadily, while patient wear recorded substantial revenue growth.」

「Under its high-value-added product strategy, the Group, comprising the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, secured orders for renewals of its core healthcare-wear products and won new facilities, while patient wear performed well. As a result, revenue increased 3.0% year on year, the sales plan was exceeded, and record-high sales were achieved.」

「For the cumulative first quarter of the consolidated fiscal year, the Group, comprising the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, recorded a substantial 11.0% year-on-year increase in revenue. There were more facilities scheduled for renewal than in the same period of the previous year, and renewals proceeded smoothly, significantly increasing sales of the core healthcare-wear and doctor-wear products. Patient and surgical wear in adjacent markets also performed well.」

「In addition to steady revenue growth from the core healthcare-wear and doctor-wear businesses, patient wear continued to perform well, and expanded sales in western Japan contributed to the company exceeding its plan and achieving record-high revenue.」

「In addition to steady performance by the core healthcare-wear and doctor-wear businesses, patient wear achieved double-digit growth, resulting in a 2.8% year-on-year increase in revenue for the cumulative third quarter of the consolidated fiscal year.」