Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Aeon just announced record revenues of more than ¥9 trillion for FY2022. </li>
<li>Its supermarkets, mall developments and drugstores continue to strengthen and even the GMS business had a good year even if it still a way to go to generate consistent profit.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, Aeon plans to pour ¥150 billion a year into group-wide digital technologies, after launching the most advanced food online operation Japan has seen yet this month.</li>
</ul>


Aeon just announced record revenues of more than ¥9 trillion for FY2022. 
Its supermarkets, mall developments and drugstores continue to strengthen and even the GMS business had a good year even if it still a way to go to generate consistent profit.
Meanwhile, Aeon plans to pour ¥150 billion a year into group-wide digital technologies, after launching the most advanced food online operation Japan has seen yet this month.


<ul>
<li>It has taken three years to build and set up but Aeon will finally open its first automated warehouse for online food sales in Chiba this summer. </li>
<li>The warehouse will run on technology from Ocado and act as the backend for a completely new online supermarket called Green Beans.</li>
<li>A second warehouse is due to come online in 2026, expanding sales to all of Tokyo and into Kanagawa. This is the most advanced food e-commerce operation in Japan.</li>
</ul>


It has taken three years to build and set up but Aeon will finally open its first automated warehouse for online food sales in Chiba this summer. 
The warehouse will run on technology from Ocado and act as the backend for a completely new online supermarket called Green Beans.
A second warehouse is due to come online in 2026, expanding sales to all of Tokyo and into Kanagawa. This is the most advanced food e-commerce operation in Japan.


Aeon to Launch Ground-Breaking Online Food Business

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Drugstores were already the fastest growing format before Covid and the health scare only improved their performance further.</li>
<li>Several of the largest chains are now powerful players in food, using their non-food base to shake up the supermarket sector in ways that Japan has never seen before.</li>
<li>Being price-led, inflation is only helping them along, with a much greater capacity to hold down prices than mainstream supermarkets.</li>
</ul>


Drugstores were already the fastest growing format before Covid and the health scare only improved their performance further.
Several of the largest chains are now powerful players in food, using their non-food base to shake up the supermarket sector in ways that Japan has never seen before.
Being price-led, inflation is only helping them along, with a much greater capacity to hold down prices than mainstream supermarkets.


Discount Drugstores Challenging Japanese Supermarkets

<ul>
<li>Inflation remains the biggest headwind but most retail formats will see growth in 2023 with e-commerce expected to become the largest channel in the next 18 months.</li>
<li>Supermarkets are ripe for consolidation as new competitors emerge from the discount sector and online while convenience stores will consolidate further in a saturated sector.</li>
<li>Department stores will rebound further but only the leading firms will survive in a contracting sector.</li>
</ul>


Inflation remains the biggest headwind but most retail formats will see growth in 2023 with e-commerce expected to become the largest channel in the next 18 months.
Supermarkets are ripe for consolidation as new competitors emerge from the discount sector and online while convenience stores will consolidate further in a saturated sector.
Department stores will rebound further but only the leading firms will survive in a contracting sector.


<ul>
<li>Inbound tourism only got going again from October but the pent up demand to visit Japan has meant a surge in visitors. </li>
<li>Since many tourists also have stuffed wallets due to curtailed spending during the pandemic and the Yen is at very low levels, there is much higher spending. </li>
<li>Key beneficiaries are listed below among department stores, premium fashion stores and drugstores.</li>
</ul>


Inbound tourism only got going again from October but the pent up demand to visit Japan has meant a surge in visitors. 
Since many tourists also have stuffed wallets due to curtailed spending during the pandemic and the Yen is at very low levels, there is much higher spending. 
Key beneficiaries are listed below among department stores, premium fashion stores and drugstores.


Inbound Tourism up 50%, Spending Almost at 2019 Levels

Japan

WELCIA HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. is a holding company established through a merger of Welcia Kanto and Takada Pharmacy.  The Group mainly operates drug chain stores which sell medicines, health foods, cosmetics, nursery items and daily necessity goods.

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Welcia Holdings (3141 JP)

Aeon: All Signs Point to Higher Returns

Aeon has long been famous for low margins and an empire of diverse business units with less than stellar efficiency. The last five years have seen...

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Aeon to Launch Ground-Breaking Online Food Business

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Discount Drugstores Challenging Japanese Supermarkets

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Outlook for Japanese Retail in 2023

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Inbound Tourism up 50%, Spending Almost at 2019 Levels

Of course inbound tourism will rebound in Japan in 2023 but spending per visitor may well exceed 2019 levels due to the weak Yen and full wallets....

Michael Causton

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