Maturation of the Alcoholic Beverages Market, Contraction in Consumption and Intensifying Competition
First written in FY2016-Q3. 9 of 27 entries say "Reframed", first in FY2019-Q3. Latest entry: 2026-08-07.
Kato Sangyo moved to the "Worse" side of this theme in 2020.
2 other companies' latest entry also says "Restated".
- 2026-08-07RestatedResults
「飲酒人口の減少や若年層のアルコール離れに加え、物価高による消費者の節約志向の定着や酒類製品の値上げ等が影響し、消費の規模は縮小傾向が続いております。」
酒類市場の構造的縮小、節約志向、値上げの影響を継続して記載している。 - FY2026-H1ReframedAnnual report
「In the alcoholic beverages distribution business, consumption continued to contract due to the declining drinking population, the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, the entrenchment of consumers’ preference for saving amid higher prices, and increases in alcoholic beverage prices. The planned unification of tax rates on beer and related products in October 2026 could cause the market to begin expanding, but if inflationary pressure intensifies due to higher labor costs from wage increases and rising logistics costs, consumer willingness to purchase is expected to decline further.」
In addition to the structural contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, the company cited consumers’ preference for saving and price increases, as well as the planned unification of tax rates on beer and related products in October 2026 as a potential catalyst for market expansion. At the same time, it anticipates lower willingness to purchase due to higher labor and logistics costs. - FY2025-H1ReframedAnnual report
「In addition, product prices continued to rise due to higher labor costs resulting from wage increases and higher logistics and material costs, and prices of beer and related products were raised in April 2025. If product price increases continue, consumer willingness to purchase is expected to decline. With the polarization of consumption becoming increasingly pronounced, the business environment remained challenging, as competition among companies could intensify further depending on future consumer purchasing trends.」
In addition to the contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, the company identified the price increases for beer and related products in April 2025, expected future declines in willingness to purchase, and higher wage, logistics, and material costs as new factors. - FY2024-Q1ReframedAnnual report
「In the alcoholic beverages distribution business, demand related to eating out and inbound tourism was recovering, but consumption continued to contract due to the declining drinking population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. Product prices were being raised intermittently due to higher raw-material and energy prices and increased logistics costs. With the polarization of consumption becoming increasingly pronounced against the backdrop of the October 2023 amendment to the Liquor Tax Act, the business environment remained challenging, as competition among companies could intensify further depending on future consumer purchasing trends.」
While indicating a recovery in demand related to eating out and inbound tourism, the company also cited the structural contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, higher costs, the October 2023 amendment to the Liquor Tax Act, the polarization of consumption, and intensifying competition. - FY2023-Q3ReframedAnnual report
「In the alcoholic beverages distribution business, consumption continued to contract due to the declining drinking population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. Rising raw-material and energy prices and higher logistics costs also contributed, resulting in a challenging business environment in which competition among companies could intensify further depending on future consumer purchasing trends. At-home demand declined following the retreat from front-loaded demand for beer ahead of price increases in October 2022, but the overall alcoholic beverages market was on a recovery trend due to the recovery in demand related to eating out and inbound tourism.」
The company continued to cite the structural contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, higher costs, and intensifying competition, while explaining that the overall market was on a recovery trend due to recovering demand related to eating out and inbound tourism. - FY2023-Q2ReframedAnnual report
「In the alcoholic beverages distribution business, consumption continued to contract due to the declining drinking population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. Rising raw-material and energy prices and higher logistics costs also contributed, resulting in a challenging business environment in which competition among companies could intensify further depending on future consumer purchasing trends.」
In addition to the structural contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, the company explicitly cited rising raw-material and energy prices and higher logistics costs, with the risk that competition could intensify further depending on future purchasing trends. - FY2023-Q1ReframedAnnual report
「While consumption continued to contract due to the declining drinking population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, at-home demand declined following the retreat from front-loaded demand for beer ahead of price increases in October 2022, while demand related to eating out recovered following the lifting of restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.」
In addition to the structural contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, the company cited a decline in at-home demand following the retreat from front-loaded demand before beer price increases and a recovery in demand for eating out following the lifting of restrictions. - FY2022-Q3ReframedAnnual report
「In the alcoholic beverages distribution business, demand related to eating out showed signs of recovery following the lifting of restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, while demand for at-home consumption began to decline as a result.」
Regarding the alcoholic beverages market, the company described a change in the demand structure, with demand related to eating out recovering following the lifting of restrictions and at-home demand declining as a result. - FY2022-Q2ReframedAnnual report
「Market trends included growing demand for functional products addressing health-conscious consumers and a shift in consumption toward products offering both price and value, making the polarization of consumption between value-seeking and low-price preferences increasingly pronounced. However, consumption continued to contract due to the declining drinking population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, while changes in where consumers shop and concerns over higher costs also contributed to a challenging business environment.」
In addition to the structural contraction of the alcoholic beverages market and the polarization of consumption, the company explicitly identified changes in where consumers shop and concerns over higher costs as factors contributing to the challenging environment. - FY2022-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「As a result, operating revenue amounted to ¥49,424 million, due to sluggish demand for eating out and the application of the Accounting Standard for Revenue Recognition, while the operating loss was ¥56 million.」
In the alcoholic beverages distribution business, an operating loss of ¥56 million arose due to sluggish demand for eating out, making evident the pressure on earnings from the contraction of the alcoholic beverages market and declining demand for eating out. - FY2021WorsenedAnnual report
「Although at-home consumption increased due to the impact of COVID-19, the alcoholic beverages market continued to contract due to the declining drinking population, the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, and the decline in opportunities to drink, particularly when eating out. Changes in where consumers shop and intensifying competition also contributed, while cost pressures, particularly in logistics, remained substantial, resulting in a challenging business environment.」
In addition to the structural contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, the company cited the decline in opportunities to drink, particularly when eating out, changes in where consumers shop, intensifying competition, and logistics cost pressures, while operating profit declined 57.5% year on year. - FY2021-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「As a result, sales amounted to ¥142,841 million, down 0.2% year on year despite expanded transactions with existing customers, while operating profit was ¥168 million, down 60.0% year on year, due largely to the impact of lower earnings resulting from a significant decline in demand for eating out.」
In the alcoholic beverages distribution business, the decline in earnings due to the significant decrease in demand for eating out became evident, and operating profit declined 60.0% year on year. - FY2021-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「Although at-home consumption increased due to the decline in opportunities to drink outside the home, particularly when eating out, as COVID-19 infections spread, the alcoholic beverages market continued to contract due to the declining drinking population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. The business environment remained challenging, also due to substantial cost pressures, particularly in logistics.」
The structural contraction of the alcoholic beverages market was compounded by the COVID-19-related decline in opportunities to drink outside the home, particularly when eating out, resulting in an 8.5% year-on-year decline in operating profit in the alcoholic beverages distribution business. - FY2021-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「The alcoholic beverages market continued to contract due to the declining drinking population, the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, and the decline in opportunities to drink, particularly when eating out, as COVID-19 infections spread, resulting in a challenging business environment.」
In addition to the structural contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, the decline in opportunities to drink, particularly when eating out, due to COVID-19 resulted in a 95.9% year-on-year decline in operating profit in the alcoholic beverages distribution business. - FY2020WorsenedAnnual report
「The alcoholic beverages market has continued to contract due to the declining drinking population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. The outlook is uncertain, also reflecting changes in consumer preferences and reduced willingness to purchase following the consumption tax increase, and the impact of the alcohol tax revision from October this year. In addition, logistics costs rose due to labor shortages and other factors, resulting in a challenging business environment.」
In addition to the structural contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, the company cited the alcohol tax revision and rising logistics costs as new burdens, while operating profit declined 49.5% year on year. - FY2020-Q3WorsenedAnnual report
「In addition, the alcoholic beverages market has continued to contract due to the declining drinking population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. The outlook is uncertain, also reflecting changes in consumer preferences and reduced willingness to purchase following the consumption tax increase. In addition, logistics costs rose due to labor shortages and other factors, resulting in a challenging business environment.」
The company continued to cite the contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, changes in preferences and reduced willingness to purchase following the consumption tax increase, and rising logistics costs due to labor shortages, while operating profit in the alcoholic beverages distribution business declined 47.0% year on year. - FY2020-Q2WorsenedAnnual report
「In addition, the alcoholic beverages market has continued to contract due to the declining drinking population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. The outlook is uncertain, also reflecting changes in consumer preferences and reduced willingness to purchase following the consumption tax increase.」
In addition to the contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, the company cited changes in preferences and reduced willingness to purchase following the consumption tax increase, as well as the impact of declining demand for eating out due to COVID-19, on performance. - FY2020-Q1WorsenedAnnual report
「In addition, the alcoholic beverages market has continued to contract due to the declining drinking population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. The outlook is uncertain, also reflecting the post-front-loaded-demand decline before the consumption tax increase and reduced willingness to purchase.」
In addition to the contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, the company identified the post-front-loaded-demand decline before the consumption tax increase and reduced willingness to purchase as actual impacts, heightening uncertainty over the outlook. - FY2019-Q3ReframedAnnual report
「In addition, the alcoholic beverages market continued to contract due to population decline, the decline in the drinking population associated with the declining birthrate and aging population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. Rising logistics costs due to labor shortages and other factors also contributed, resulting in a challenging business environment.」
In addition to the maturation and contraction of the alcoholic beverages market, the company explicitly identified rising logistics costs due to labor shortages and other factors as a contributor to the challenging business environment. - FY2019-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the mature market, the alcoholic beverages market has continued to contract due to population decline, the decline in the drinking population associated with the declining birthrate and aging population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol,」
The company continues to report a trend toward contraction in the alcoholic beverages market resulting from population decline, the declining birthrate and aging population, the decline in the drinking population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. - FY2018-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the mature market, the alcoholic beverages market continued to contract due to population decline, the decline in the drinking population associated with the declining birthrate and aging population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, resulting in an ongoing challenging business environment.」
The company continues to report the contraction of the alcoholic beverages market resulting from population decline, the declining birthrate and aging population, the decline in the drinking population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. - FY2018-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「In the mature market, the alcoholic beverages market continued to contract due to Japan’s declining population, the decline in the drinking population associated with the declining birthrate and aging population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, resulting in an ongoing challenging business environment.」
The company continues to recognize the contraction of the alcoholic beverages market resulting from population decline, the declining birthrate and aging population, the decline in the drinking population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. - FY2017-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In the mature market, the alcoholic beverages market continued to contract due to Japan’s declining population, the decline in the drinking population associated with the declining birthrate and aging population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, resulting in a challenging business environment.」
The company continues to recognize the contraction of the alcoholic beverages market resulting from population decline, the declining birthrate and aging population, the decline in the drinking population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. - FY2017-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In the mature market, the alcoholic beverages market continued to contract due to Japan’s declining population, the decline in the drinking population associated with the declining birthrate and aging population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, resulting in a challenging business environment.」
The company continues to recognize the contraction of the alcoholic beverages market resulting from population decline, the declining birthrate and aging population, the decline in the drinking population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. - FY2017-Q1RestatedAnnual report
「In the mature market, the alcoholic beverages market continued to contract due to Japan’s declining population, the decline in the drinking population associated with the declining birthrate and aging population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, resulting in a challenging business environment.」
The company continues to recognize the contraction of the alcoholic beverages market resulting from population decline, the declining birthrate and aging population, the decline in the drinking population, and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol. - FY2016RestatedAnnual report
「In the mature market, the alcoholic beverages market continues to contract, due to factors including a decline in the drinking population associated with the declining birthrate and aging population and the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol.」
The company continues to recognize the maturation of the alcoholic beverages market, the decline in the drinking population, the younger generation’s shift away from alcohol, and the contraction in consumption. - FY2016-Q3First statedAnnual report
「In the mature market, the trend toward a contraction in consumption has continued, reflecting the diversification of preferences and consumers’ increasing preference for lower prices.」
It was explained that the alcoholic beverages market continues to mature, consumers continue to favor lower prices, and consumption continues to contract, while competition for market share and price competition are also intensifying.