Strengthening customer engagement and brand awareness through food experiences, digital channels and showrooms

「In February, we opened “Zojirushi Shokudo Umeda,” the third Zojirushi Shokudo restaurant, and in July, we opened “Zojirushi Ginpaku Onigiri Kintetsu Nara,” the third specialty onigiri restaurant.」

「With the aim of further growing the food-service business, the company opened “Zojirushi Shokudo Umeda,” its third Zojirushi Shokudo location, in February.」

「Other revenue was ¥2,680 million, up 16.6% from the previous consolidated fiscal year, as the food-service business centered on Zojirushi Shokudo performed strongly.」

「The company also opened the rice restaurant Zojirushi Shokudo in Tokyo and worked to develop new businesses and expand its CSV business, including by renovating “Mimamori Hot Line,” a safety-check service that quietly monitors the daily well-being of parents living far away through an electric hot-water pot.」

「The company also worked to strengthen customer touchpoints by enhancing the “ZOJIRUSHI Owner Service” for users of its products and its owned media, and strengthened information dissemination by publishing an integrated report and enhancing its CSR website.」

「The company also opened “Zojirushi Direct,” a direct-to-consumer e-commerce site for its products, and launched “Zojirushi Rental Service,” offering “trial rentals” that allow customers to try products before purchasing and “seasonal rentals” that allow them to use and return products only when needed.」

「As part of its business development centered on delicious rice, the company worked to enhance the appeal of Zojirushi Shokudo, a rice restaurant opened in Osaka in 2018, and opened “Enbu-Daki Zojirushi-tei,” a takeout-only restaurant, on a limited-time basis.」

「These were cancellation fees and other costs arising from the cancellation of sales promotion events in response to requests from the national and local governments to refrain from going out, among other measures, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.」

「The spread of the novel coronavirus disease raised concerns about a sharp decline in inbound demand in Japan, lower stainless-steel bottle sales due to people refraining from going out and school closures, the cancellation of sales promotion events, lower demand overseas, and restrictions on sales activities.」

「Overseas, the company expanded initiatives to further enhance the brand and increase sales, including by opening 2 new company-operated shops in large shopping malls in Thailand.」

「Overseas, the company promoted initiatives to further enhance the brand and expand sales, including by opening a new company-operated shop in a large shopping mall in Thailand.」

「The company worked to enhance the brand and strengthen customer touchpoints, including by establishing a permanent Zojirushi Shokudo location after previously operating the restaurant on a limited-time basis as a place where customers could experience the taste of rice cooked with “Enbu-Daki.”」

「As part of efforts to strengthen customer touchpoints, the company held “Zojirushi Shokudo” on a limited-time basis in Tokyo and Osaka as a place where customers could experience the taste of “delicious rice.” It also enhanced its website and strengthened information dissemination through digital channels. Overseas, it actively conducted sales promotion activities in various countries, including new product presentations and in-store campaigns. In addition, it renovated the Zojirushi boutique in Shanghai, China, which had opened as a base for communicating Japanese food culture, enhanced the facilities, including by expanding its cooking-class offerings, participated in Pink Ribbon campaigns in Taiwan and Thailand, and opened a new showroom in Vietnam, implementing initiatives to further raise awareness of the Zojirushi brand.」