Impact of the spread of COVID-19 on demand for and distribution of flowers and plants

「In the floriculture industry, consumers' preference for saving strengthened and the frequency of purchases of flowers and greenery tended to decline. At the same time, growing interest in the SDGs has led to a trend, particularly among younger generations, toward more people enjoying a lifestyle with flowers and greenery on a daily basis, indicating a change in perceptions of the value of purchasing flowers and greenery.」

「Regarding the group’s operating results and other matters for the current consolidated fiscal year, net sales were below last year’s record high but remained firm each month as the impact of COVID-19 diminished.」

「Regarding the group’s operating results and other matters for the current consolidated fiscal year, net sales were below last year’s record high but remained firm each month as the impact of COVID-19 diminished.」

「During the first 3 quarters of the current consolidated fiscal year, Japan’s economy entered a gradual recovery trend as daily life moved toward normalization after COVID-19 was reclassified as a Class 5 infectious disease, supported by recovering personal consumption, corporate capital investment and expanding inbound demand.」

「In the floral industry, the concentration of postponed weddings held over from the previous year's pandemic has ended, while funerals have become established as smaller-scale occasions and their number increased from the previous year. Both returned to pre-pandemic levels. In personal demand, consumers appeared increasingly price-sensitive amid continued inflation, but home-use demand established during the pandemic remained resilient, and flowers in affordable price ranges sold well.」

「In the floriculture industry, various forms of business demand, including weddings that had been postponed during the pandemic, have reached a turning point and are gradually returning to normal, while wholesale market prices have moved toward levels centered on household demand. Although the continued rise in prices raised concerns about weaker consumer sentiment toward flowers and plants as discretionary goods, home-use demand that took hold during the pandemic remained firm.」

「In addition to home-use demand, which increased during the pandemic, demand for weddings, funerals and other ceremonial occasions, which had fallen, also recovered, and net sales reached a record high.」

「Demand for events as people sought to return to normal life, demand for gifts and demand for weddings, funerals and other ceremonial occasions became active, although the scale of the latter had contracted while the number of such occasions increased.」

「In the floral industry, demand for flowers has increased as weddings, funerals, sporting events and various other events that had been curtailed during COVID-19 gradually resumed. In addition, home-use demand has remained stable across all age groups, as people regard a lifestyle with flowers and greenery at home as essential for addressing environmental issues and maintaining their mental health.」

「In the floriculture industry, demand recovered as wedding receptions that had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic resumed and events increased. In addition, household demand, the foundation of flower consumption, remains solid, while internet and subscription-based sales channels have opened up new demand among younger people. Overall demand has increased from pre-COVID levels.」

「Weddings, funerals and other ceremonial occasions remain small-scale, while demand for event displays and floral arrangements at hotels and restaurants remains subdued. However, demand for houseplants and cut branches has expanded as people seek to make offices and homes more comfortable with greenery, and demand for home use, in which people decorate their living spaces with flowers and greenery, has continued to expand steadily across all age groups. Gift demand has also increased beyond Mother’s Day, as people have been unable to meet directly and some weddings, funerals and other ceremonies have been held privately without wider notification.」

「From October onward, commercial demand for weddings, funerals and other ceremonies, which had stagnated, also recovered, while individual demand, which had increased during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, remained firm.」

「In the floriculture industry, individual demand remained firm as prolonged stay-at-home conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic heightened interest in living with plants nearby, while growing awareness of environmental issues focused attention on the importance and benefits of greenery.」

「In the floriculture industry, demand for weddings, funerals and other ceremonies remained sluggish due to repeated declarations of a state of emergency and the issuance of priority preventive measures, although signs of recovery emerged. Individual demand was strong, while the industry association's "Okuléte gommen" campaign proved effective, particularly increasing the number of people buying flowers as gifts. Purchasing flowers through subscriptions has also become established. Consumer behavior is shifting toward experience-based consumption, particularly among younger people, and household and individual demand are expected to remain firm.」

「In the floriculture industry, commercial demand showed signs of recovery as wedding receptions and events gradually resumed, but their scale continued to shrink and conditions remained challenging. Meanwhile, as people increasingly refrained from going out and spent more time at home, household demand was rising. In particular, because many people spent the year-end and New Year holidays at home, household demand was stronger than usual.」

「In the floral industry, business-use flowers remained in a difficult situation due to the decline in wedding receptions, funerals and events, but demand for home use increased as people spent more time at home, and flowers sold well at supermarkets and home-improvement stores.」

「In April, when a state of emergency was declared, opportunities to use flowers, including weddings, funerals and events, fell sharply, and April sales declined to approximately half the level of the previous year. Meanwhile, continued calls to refrain from going out increased interest in flowers and greenery at home, driving demand higher. The spread of contactless e-commerce sales by flower shops was also a tailwind.」

「In March, cancellations and postponements of graduation ceremonies, farewell and welcome parties, events and other activities followed one after another due to the spread of COVID-19. Amid nationwide calls to refrain from economic activity, the volume of flowers and plants distributed fell sharply and sales declined substantially.」