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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The following is an in-depth review of the Japanese retail sector in 2021-22 and is designed to provide a complete overview for any investor in Japanese retail/consumer markets.</li>
<li>FY2021-22 proved a rebound year for retailers at the sector level. But on a company by company basis, there has been radical divergence between the best and the rest. </li>
<li>We look at the reasons for this divergence and the implications for Japanese retail and consumer firms in the years ahead.</li>
</ul>


The following is an in-depth review of the Japanese retail sector in 2021-22 and is designed to provide a complete overview for any investor in Japanese retail/consumer markets.
FY2021-22 proved a rebound year for retailers at the sector level. But on a company by company basis, there has been radical divergence between the best and the rest. 
We look at the reasons for this divergence and the implications for Japanese retail and consumer firms in the years ahead.


Japanese Retailing 2021-22: What's Really Going on and What's Next?

<ul>
<li>OK Super is today the biggest single chain of supermarkets in Tokyo with a strong customer following thanks to its low prices.</li>
<li>It still aims to be the cheapest store in any local area, backed by aggressive buying and low cost operations, and will expand store openings this year.</li>
<li>Although it is a private company, it is a serious competitor to any listed supermarket chain in the Kanto area.</li>
</ul>


OK Super is today the biggest single chain of supermarkets in Tokyo with a strong customer following thanks to its low prices.
It still aims to be the cheapest store in any local area, backed by aggressive buying and low cost operations, and will expand store openings this year.
Although it is a private company, it is a serious competitor to any listed supermarket chain in the Kanto area.


FY2020 was clearly a year when department store executives would have been better to live in an induced coma. Big city stores suffered especially because inbound tourists, their main growth driver of the past few years, disappeared and local shoppers stayed away, although some stores did manage to harness support from Japan’s expanding wealth market to offset the rout a little bit. The good news is that executives pushing for change in the last five years in the face of perennial intransigence are increasingly taking charge and the result should be a leaner, smaller and more clearly defined format that is more overtly upscale.

FY2020 was clearly a year when department store executives would have been better to live in an induced coma. Big city stores suffered especially because inbound tourists, their main growth driver of the past few years, disappeared and local shoppers stayed away, although some stores did manage to harness support from Japan’s expanding wealth market to offset the rout a little bit. The good news is that executives pushing for change in the last five years in the face of perennial intransigence are increasingly taking charge and the result should be a leaner, smaller and more clearly defined format that is more overtly upscale.

Japan's Department Stores: Radical Contraction Still to Come if Sector Is to Survive

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

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>I tally 51 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.</li>
<li>One new deal was discussed on Smartkarma this week: Carlyle's tiult for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kfc-holdings-japan-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:12358:1" rel="noopener">KFC Holdings Japan (9873 JP)</a>. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-henlius-biotech-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27888:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Henlius Biotech (2696 HK)</a> suspended pursuant to the Takeovers Code.</li>
<li>Key updates took place on: <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/alumina-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:939:1" rel="noopener">Alumina Ltd (AWC AU)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/l-occitane-international-sa" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:6772:1" rel="noopener">L'Occitane (973 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bhp-group-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:147:1" rel="noopener">BHP Group Ltd (BHP AU)</a>/ <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/anglo-american-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21798:1" rel="noopener">Anglo American (AAL LN)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sciclone-pharmaceuticals-holdings-limited" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:17351:1" rel="noopener">SciClone Pharmaceuticals (6600 HK)</a>.</li>
</ul>


I tally 51 - mostly firm, mostly Asia-Pac - transactions currently being discussed and analysed on Smartkarma. Inside is a timetable of upcoming key events for each deal.
One new deal was discussed on Smartkarma this week: Carlyle's tiult for KFC Holdings Japan (9873 JP). Shanghai Henlius Biotech (2696 HK) suspended pursuant to the Takeovers Code.
Key updates took place on: Alumina Ltd (AWC AU), L'Occitane (973 HK), BHP Group Ltd (BHP AU)/ Anglo American (AAL LN), and SciClone Pharmaceuticals (6600 HK).


(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: KFC Holdings Japan, Shanghai Henlius, Alumina, BHP/ Anglo American, SciClone

Japan

Kansai Food Market Ltd. operates as a food supermarket chain operator. The Company mainly deals in foodstuffs, daily products, and miscellaneous goods. Kansai Food Market markets products in Hyogo and Osaka areas.

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Kansai Food Market (9919 JP)

Japanese Retailing 2021-22: What's Really Going on and What's Next?

There is increasing divergence between the winners and losers in Japanese retailing and the following in-depth review looks at performance in the...

Michael Causton

OK Super: Winning in Inflation Era

OK Corporation runs Japan's most successful discount supermarket operation and is a benchmark to measure its listed competitors. It is likely to...

Michael Causton

Japan's Department Stores: Radical Contraction Still to Come if Sector Is to Survive

Japan's department stores are in trouble and were well before the pandemic but their outlook is much worse now. Major changes are required, not...

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

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: KFC Holdings Japan, Shanghai Henlius, Alumina, BHP/ Anglo American, SciClone

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Japanese Retailing 2021-22: What's Really Going on and What's Next?

There is increasing divergence between the winners and losers in Japanese retailing and the following in-depth review looks at performance in the...

Michael Causton

OK Super: Winning in Inflation Era

OK Corporation runs Japan's most successful discount supermarket operation and is a benchmark to measure its listed competitors. It is likely to...

Michael Causton

Japan's Department Stores: Radical Contraction Still to Come if Sector Is to Survive

Japan's department stores are in trouble and were well before the pandemic but their outlook is much worse now. Major changes are required, not...

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

(Mostly) Asia-Pac M&A: KFC Holdings Japan, Shanghai Henlius, Alumina, BHP/ Anglo American, SciClone

This insight provides a summary of gross/annualised spreads (on deals discussed on Smartkarma) across Asia-Pacific as at the last trading date, and...

David Blennerhassett

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