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. 

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Yaoko is now called Blue Zone Holdings, and is shaking up Japan’s supermarket landscape by acquiring two well-matched regional chains just weeks after its launch. </li>
<li>The company plans to accelerate plans to acquire other smaller supermarket chains to build out into a national chain.</li>
<li>The plan also signals a new wave of M&amp;A in the sector as barriers to supermarket consolidation finally start to fall.</li>
</ul>


Yaoko is now called Blue Zone Holdings, and is shaking up Japan’s supermarket landscape by acquiring two well-matched regional chains just weeks after its launch. 
The company plans to accelerate plans to acquire other smaller supermarket chains to build out into a national chain.
The plan also signals a new wave of M&amp;A in the sector as barriers to supermarket consolidation finally start to fall.


Yaoko Spearheads M&A Rush in Japanese Supermarket Sector

<ul>
<li>Ito-Yokado’s withdrawal from the Hokkaido market has proven a windfall for affiliated chain, Daiichi. </li>
<li>The Hokkaido supermarket has already opened new stores in sites vacated by Ito-Yokado – the only difficulty has been finding ways to fill the larger spaces.</li>
<li>Now Arcs is waiting in the wings in case Daiichi becomes available for takeover – Arcs' chairman owns 1% of Daiichi personally.</li>
</ul>


Ito-Yokado’s withdrawal from the Hokkaido market has proven a windfall for affiliated chain, Daiichi. 
The Hokkaido supermarket has already opened new stores in sites vacated by Ito-Yokado – the only difficulty has been finding ways to fill the larger spaces.
Now Arcs is waiting in the wings in case Daiichi becomes available for takeover – Arcs' chairman owns 1% of Daiichi personally.


Daiichi a Possible Target for Arcs Takeover as Gains in Hokkaido

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Deep discounter OK Super’s entry into the Kansai market is causing local competitors real headaches –one estimate says it has taken 10% share around its first store already. </li>
<li>OK has exposed just how derivative most existing chains have become and, with the introduction of genuine price competition at a time when consumers are increasingly price sensitive</li>
<li>While OK Super is a private company, some of the competitors are listed like Kansai Food Market who, without new ideas, will suffer in the next three years.</li>
</ul>


Deep discounter OK Super’s entry into the Kansai market is causing local competitors real headaches –one estimate says it has taken 10% share around its first store already. 
OK has exposed just how derivative most existing chains have become and, with the introduction of genuine price competition at a time when consumers are increasingly price sensitive
While OK Super is a private company, some of the competitors are listed like Kansai Food Market who, without new ideas, will suffer in the next three years.


OK Super: Disrupting Kansai Supermarket Sector

<ul>
<li>Until last year, Trial was a Kyushu-based discount FMCG retailer, that had just completed its IPO. </li>
<li>Today, it is one of the largest FMCG retailers in the country having won the bidding to acquire Seiyu from foster care under KKR.</li>
<li>This is a massive development that will pressure other rivals to step up in order to compete.</li>
</ul>


Until last year, Trial was a Kyushu-based discount FMCG retailer, that had just completed its IPO. 
Today, it is one of the largest FMCG retailers in the country having won the bidding to acquire Seiyu from foster care under KKR.
This is a massive development that will pressure other rivals to step up in order to compete.


Trial Purchase of Seiyu Creates New Japanese Retail Power

<ul>
<li>Rakuten still gets a lot of flak for its mobile business but its core e-commerce operation continues to improve.</li>
<li>Rakuten will launch Rakuten Mart this month,  an online supermarket but with Rakuten Ichiba vendors too.</li>
<li>Online food retailing is becoming a major source of competition with Amazon, Aeon and Seven &amp; I all investing heavily but Rakuten is holding its own.</li>
</ul>


Rakuten still gets a lot of flak for its mobile business but its core e-commerce operation continues to improve.
Rakuten will launch Rakuten Mart this month,  an online supermarket but with Rakuten Ichiba vendors too.
Online food retailing is becoming a major source of competition with Amazon, Aeon and Seven &amp; I all investing heavily but Rakuten is holding its own.


Japan

Arcs Co Ltd operates supermarket and discount store chain in the Hokkaido area.  The Company mainly retails foodstuffs, clothing, and sundry goods.

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Arcs Co Ltd (9948 JP)

Yaoko Spearheads M&A Rush in Japanese Supermarket Sector

Blue Zone Holdings (Yaoko), is expanding in by acquiring regional chains, with plans to become a national chain through further M&A, part of a new...

Michael Causton

Daiichi a Possible Target for Arcs Takeover as Gains in Hokkaido

Ito-Yokado's exit from Hokkaido benefits Daiichi, which is moving into the former's old stores. But with only Aeon as a competitor in the island,...

Michael Causton

OK Super: Disrupting Kansai Supermarket Sector

OK Super's entry into the Kansai market is shaking up local competitors with its deep discounts, posing a threat to existing chains lacking...

Michael Causton

Trial Purchase of Seiyu Creates New Japanese Retail Power

Kyushu-based retailer Trial becomes one of Japan's largest FMCG retailers after acquiring Seiyu, putting pressure on competitors to step up.

Michael Causton

Rakuten Mart Launching This Month

Despite criticism of its mobile business, Rakuten's core e-commerce operation is thriving and set to launch Rakuten Mart, an online supermarket,...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Yaoko Spearheads M&A Rush in Japanese Supermarket Sector

​Blue Zone Holdings (Yaoko), is expanding in by acquiring regional chains, with plans to become a national chain through further M&A, part of a new...

Michael Causton

Daiichi a Possible Target for Arcs Takeover as Gains in Hokkaido

​Ito-Yokado's exit from Hokkaido benefits Daiichi, which is moving into the former's old stores. But with only Aeon as a competitor in the island,...

Michael Causton

OK Super: Disrupting Kansai Supermarket Sector

​OK Super's entry into the Kansai market is shaking up local competitors with its deep discounts, posing a threat to existing chains lacking...

Michael Causton

Trial Purchase of Seiyu Creates New Japanese Retail Power

​Kyushu-based retailer Trial becomes one of Japan's largest FMCG retailers after acquiring Seiyu, putting pressure on competitors to step up.

Michael Causton

Rakuten Mart Launching This Month

​Despite criticism of its mobile business, Rakuten's core e-commerce operation is thriving and set to launch Rakuten Mart, an online supermarket,...

Michael Causton

Blue Zone Holdings (Yaoko), is expanding in by acquiring regional chains, with plans to become a national chain through further M&A, part of a new...

Ito-Yokado's exit from Hokkaido benefits Daiichi, which is moving into the former's old stores. But with only Aeon as a competitor in the island,...

OK Super's entry into the Kansai market is shaking up local competitors with its deep discounts, posing a threat to existing chains lacking...

Kyushu-based retailer Trial becomes one of Japan's largest FMCG retailers after acquiring Seiyu, putting pressure on competitors to step up.

Despite criticism of its mobile business, Rakuten's core e-commerce operation is thriving and set to launch Rakuten Mart, an online supermarket,...