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Royce cocoa bean

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

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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The 3‑Pillar Framework for Prioritising Export Markets

How your Business Can Choose the Right Markets With Confidence Expanding internationally is one of the most powerful ways for small and mid‑sized companies to grow. But with limited resources, choosing the right markets matters far more than choosing many markets. Too often, companies rely on gut feel, anecdotal evidence, or the latest “hot market”

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FOODEX Japan 2026 — Opening Day Reflections, Market Insights & A Look Behind the Scenes

This year I had the opportunity to visit FOODEX Japan 2026 on opening day, held at the iconic Tokyo Big Sight — one of Japan’s largest and most recognisable exhibition venues. The event ran 10–13 March, 2026 and spanned multiple halls across the East, West, and South wings of the complex.  The location is always a highlight. A quick, smooth 30‑minute

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Route to market

Winning Route to Market (RTM): How to Choose the Model That Actually Drives Growth

Brands don’t win in the warehouse — they win at the point of purchase. When growth stalls, many companies default to the usual levers: new SKUs, new claims, new campaigns. In our work with consumer products brands across markets, the root cause is often simpler—and more structural: an RTM model that doesn’t match the growth

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The Rise of Micro‑Multinationals: Why Small Companies Are Winning Globally

The world of international business is changing fast. Today, a growing wave of micro‑multinationals is proving that global expansion is no longer reserved for large corporations with vast budgets and complex infrastructures. Instead, small, highly focused organisations are taking their products and expertise into international markets earlier than ever before. These companies typically start with

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From Fermentation to Future Foods: Finland’s Biotech Push into Japan

We (Weben) recently had the pleasure of hosting a one-day market immersion in Osaka, Japan, spotlighting the fast-evolving world of novel foods—with a powerhouse delegation from Finland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Finland isn’t just dabbling in biotech—it’s diving in headfirst. The delegation featured civil servants, representatives from research organisations and five innovative companies, ranging

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Inside Lawson’s Futuristic AI-Powered Convenience Store in Tokyo

25th June 2025 On Monday, on the 6th floor of Lawson’s soon-to-open head office (set to debut this July), a press event offered a sneak peek into the retailer’s futuristic new tech store. Japan’s convenience stores are iconic and hugely successful—not just at home but increasingly across Asia. While Lawson trails behind industry leader 7-Eleven

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AI insights

What AI Means for the Biggest and Smallest Consumer Goods Companies

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising both large and small consumer companies, albeit in different ways. Let’s explore how AI is impacting these businesses and how they are using AI to innovate commercial and operations. AI’s Use in Big Multinational Companies AI’s is used in 4 main areas:- 1. Consumer Insights: 2. Speed to Market: There

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If 7-i Holdings Falls to an Unsolicited Takeover, Is the Writing on the Wall for Shiseido & Kao?

Last year, Canadian retailer Couche-Tard bid for 7&I Holdings, one of Japan’s preeminent retail chains. The move was rebuffed, even though Couche-Tard increased their bid. Meanwhile, 7&I has accelerated the divestment of non-core assets like its supermarket business and sought to take the company private. This latter move involved a cohort of banks and several

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