Fluctuations in Restaurant Demand Due to Weather, Disasters and Infectious Diseases

「Demand in the food service industry may fluctuate if consumers have fewer opportunities or less inclination to eat out due to poor weather, extreme weather, disasters, conflicts, and other factors.」

「Demand in the food service industry may fluctuate as consumers have fewer opportunities or less inclination to eat out due to poor weather, extreme weather, disasters, conflicts, and other factors.」

「During the cumulative first quarter of the fiscal year under review, Japan's economy remained on a gradual recovery trend, centered on domestic demand, as restrictions on activities related to novel coronavirus disease were eased and socioeconomic activity normalized.」

「If infectious diseases such as novel influenza or novel coronavirus spread, forcing people to refrain from going out or stores to suspend operations or reduce operating hours, the resulting decline in customer numbers may affect the group's operating results or financial position.」

「While the easing of restrictions on activities led to a gradual recovery in economic activity, the sharp increase in infections caused by the seventh wave of novel coronavirus disease from July onward raised renewed concerns about an economic downturn.」

「In the food service industry to which the group belongs, restrictions on travel and alcohol consumption have eased, and customer numbers have gradually increased. However, concerns about a seventh wave of novel coronavirus disease infections have emerged, and difficult operating conditions continue.」

「In the food service industry, reduced operating hours and the suspension of alcohol service were unavoidable during the above measures for almost the entire year.」

「The lifting of the state of emergency and the priority preventive measures eased restrictions on travel and alcohol consumption, and customer numbers are expected to increase. However, the emergence of new variants has left the operating environment uncertain.」

「During the cumulative second quarter of the fiscal year under review, Japan's economy remained in difficult conditions, with sluggish personal consumption, stagnant corporate earnings and business sentiment due to the renewed spread of novel coronavirus disease. Although expectations for an economic recovery driven by the effects of vaccinations have recently increased, the outlook remains uncertain because of downside risks from repeated waves of infections.」

「In the foodservice industry, a state of emergency remains in effect in some regions, while requests to reduce operating hours have been issued in other regions, and the outlook remains uncertain.」

「Repeated reductions in operating hours and restrictions on dining in large groups at the request of local governments resulted in a substantial loss of demand for the group.」

「Although there were periods of recovery after the declarations were lifted due to the effects of the Go to Campaign, the campaign was temporarily suspended or scaled back because of the third wave of novel coronavirus disease infections from November, significantly affecting personal consumption.」

「Although signs of recovery emerged from July onward, concerns about a second wave in August reduced movement of people during the Obon season. The company had expected the usual large numbers of customers, but sales remained sluggish.」

「In the foodservice industry, the April 2020 state of emergency forced businesses nationwide to close temporarily or reduce their operating hours. Even after the declaration was lifted in May, customer traffic did not increase because people continued to avoid nonessential outings and new lifestyles became established, and the operating environment has remained challenging.」

「After the first domestic case of novel coronavirus infection was confirmed in mid-January, customer numbers gradually declined.」

「During the consolidated third quarter of the fiscal year under review, Typhoon No. 19, which made landfall in Shizuoka Prefecture on 12 October and subsequently caused extensive damage in the Kanto region, forced stores other than those in the Kansai region and Mie Prefecture to close that day. Higashimatsuyama store also took approximately 2.5 months to resume operations, on 27 December, and these events had a significant impact on the company's earnings.」

「In July, the prolonged rainy season affected customer numbers, which were weak at 93.7% of the year-earlier level. In August, customer numbers remained sluggish at 100.4% of the year-earlier level despite favorable calendar effects. In September, they were at approximately the same level as the previous year, at 100.4%.」

「Demand may fluctuate as consumers have fewer opportunities or less inclination to eat out due to poor weather, extreme weather, disasters, conflicts, outbreaks of infectious diseases such as novel influenza, and other factors.」