Japan

Royce cocoa bean

How a Privately Owned Japanese Chocolate Brand Built US$220m in Revenue — Quietly

Branding, Japan, Other / By

Royce’: Hokkaido’s chocolate star From cocoa farms in Colombia to advanced manufacturing across Hokkaido During a recent visit to the Royce’ Chocolate shop and factory in Sapporo, I was reminded how premium food brands are rarely built on product alone. They are built through story, place, engineering discipline, and restraint. Royce is a masterclass in how Japanese […]

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Living the Hokkaido Dream: Food, Culture, and Real Estate

Japan, Tourism / By

Why Otaru? The sight of century-old warehouses glowing at dusk, the smell of freshly cooked scallops and snowboarding — these are the moments that convinced me Hokkaido was more than just a destination. After countless visits, I finally decided to make it home, buying an apartment in Otaru this summer. Otaru is a year-round destination

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Graffiti and Declining Sales: Coca-Cola’s Vending Machine Struggles in Osaka

Japan, Route to Market, Vending / By

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan (CCBJ) oversees bottling, sales, and distribution across retail, vending, and foodservice channels. In Japanese business language, this frontline activity is known as the genba (現場) —the coal face, where strategy meets reality. As a publicly listed entity, CCBJ reports its financial results regularly. Its second-quarter (H1) earnings presentation drew attention online, as

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小樽
Otaru, Hokkaido

Cracking the Crab Code: Can Otaru’s Seafood Find a Global Route to Market?

Japan, Tourism / By

Last week, I returned from a summer trip to Hokkaido, Japan’s northern frontier—and a rising star in the global seafood trade. With its cool, UK-like climate and rich marine bounty, Hokkaido offers a compelling case study for exporters and market entry strategists alike. Otaru: A Historic Port with Modern Potential Nestled just north of Sapporo,

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Japan’s Love for Belgian Chocolate – Insights from Expo 2025

Belgium, Japan, Market entry / By

Whilst Expo 2025 Osaka is largely an event for the general public, business and trade discussions play a crucial role.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be a VIP guest at the Belgian Pavilion, exploring key industries that are core to Belgium’s export engine—Chocolate, Biscuits, and Coffee. The event featured presentations from four leading Belgian

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Exploring a Hokkaido cooperative: two big standouts Giant North Pacific Octopus and Konnyaku

Japan, merchandising / By

I’m currently in Hokkaido, and while I’ve visited many times, this northern island never ceases to amaze me with its wild natural beauty and breathtaking landscapes. Hokkaido has always been one of my favourite parts of Japan. I always thought that Hokkaido’s biggest food products were milk, dairy products, confectionery, and cheese cakes, not to

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Donkihote

Behind the scenes of Donki (ドンキホーテ）, now Japan’s 4th biggest retail chain

Japan, Media, Retail / By

I’ve always struggled to describe Donki Hote (Don Quijote). Some say it’s a discounter with cut throat pricing, what discounters sell an eclectic range encompassing fresh sushi, car accessories, fashion and more besides? The chain is famous for its Aladdin’s range of merchandise including many import items. It’s fun to visit (unlike many European discounters)

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First Sushi, then Manga and Anime. What next? Is Japanese literature the next global publishing phenomenon?

Japan, Marketing / By

The export of Japanese food started in earnest with sushi in the 1980s at the zenith of Japan’s postwar boom. Today the export of ‘washoku’ (food, agriculture and fishery products) exceeds $8.7b. It’s a number that is climbing every year. Animé is even bigger worth $29.4b in exports in 2022 thanks to the likes of

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Kirin beer thirsts for health today buying famous skincare and dietary supplement brand Fancl. 

Alcohol, Japan, M&A / By

Most people associate Kirin with beer. That may be changing. Today Kirin revealed it is buying health and wellness company Fancl for JPY 220 billion (US$ 1.3b ) According to Bloomberg the purchase price is a 43% premium to the stock’s closing price. This is not Kirin’s first foray into health. It has a pharma and

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Love delicious Japanese sozai? 7&i bets in house Peace Deli is the saviour to its superstore woes!

food, Japan / By

Can retailers excel at food manufacturing? Japanese retail giant 7&i believes so. I’ve updated this blog post on 23rd May to include the above video Whilst 7&i’s CVS business is well known, and a key driver of profitability, the opposite is true for its superstore division, internally branded SST. SST accounts for 31% of group

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