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>The possible merger between Welcia and Tsuruha under Aeon has been talked about for years despite concerns from both drugstores, but may now happen.</li>
<li>But calling these retailers drugstores is increasingly a misnomer: FMCG-drugstores is better because they and many others in the sector, increasingly compete with FMCG retailers like supermarkets and even CVS.</li>
<li>This evolution is rapid so the merits of a deal make more sense when we view it from a sector five years in the future than how it is today.</li>
</ul>


The possible merger between Welcia and Tsuruha under Aeon has been talked about for years despite concerns from both drugstores, but may now happen.
But calling these retailers drugstores is increasingly a misnomer: FMCG-drugstores is better because they and many others in the sector, increasingly compete with FMCG retailers like supermarkets and even CVS.
This evolution is rapid so the merits of a deal make more sense when we view it from a sector five years in the future than how it is today.


Aeon, Welcia and Tsuruha: Creating an FMCG Behemoth

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>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>As outlined in an overview on Japanese drugstores, the sector has outperformed all retail formats and grown 30% since 2015.</li>
<li>The sector continues to consolidate too, with greater share for a smaller number of leading firms.</li>
<li>This is being driven by organic expansion in and outside drugstores as well as M&amp;A, with a lot more of both to come.</li>
</ul>


As outlined in an overview on Japanese drugstores, the sector has outperformed all retail formats and grown 30% since 2015.
The sector continues to consolidate too, with greater share for a smaller number of leading firms.
This is being driven by organic expansion in and outside drugstores as well as M&amp;A, with a lot more of both to come.


<ul>
<li>The drugstore sector is now 30% larger than it was in 2015, the fastest growth of any retail channel other than e-commerce. </li>
<li>In 2020 and 2021 that growth continued, with only some minor signs of slowing after the boost that many chains enjoyed at the beginning of the pandemic. </li>
<li>Expansion into food means that drugstores are fast becoming competitors to other retailers and, by 2025, the sector could even break ¥10 trillion, matching the size of convenience stores.</li>
</ul>


The drugstore sector is now 30% larger than it was in 2015, the fastest growth of any retail channel other than e-commerce. 
In 2020 and 2021 that growth continued, with only some minor signs of slowing after the boost that many chains enjoyed at the beginning of the pandemic. 
Expansion into food means that drugstores are fast becoming competitors to other retailers and, by 2025, the sector could even break ¥10 trillion, matching the size of convenience stores.


Japanese Drugstores: The Best Retail Bet Japan Has

Japan

KUSURI NO AOKI CO., LTD. operates a drug store chain.  The Company sells medical drugs, cosmetics, toiletries, household and sundry goods, and groceries.  Some of their stores sell alcoholic beverages and frozen foods as well.

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Kusuri No Aoki (3398 JP)

Aeon, Welcia and Tsuruha: Creating an FMCG Behemoth

Merger between Welcia and Tsuruha under Aeon may happen as FMCG-drugstores increasingly compete with supermarkets and CVS, so we need to view the...

Michael Causton

Discount Drugstores Challenging Japanese Supermarkets

Japan's supermarkets are facing unprecedented challenges from new competition in e-commerce but especially drugstores. We highlight the winners in...

Michael Causton

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

Drugstores in Japan: Winners and Losers

Japan's drugstore sector continues to grow but only a few retailers will emerge as winners as competitors carve out greater market share.

Michael Causton

Japanese Drugstores: The Best Retail Bet Japan Has

Japan's drugstore sector has been written off by many leading analysts in the past. They were wrong then and are wrong now. The sector has plenty...

Michael Causton

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Aeon, Welcia and Tsuruha: Creating an FMCG Behemoth

​Merger between Welcia and Tsuruha under Aeon may happen as FMCG-drugstores increasingly compete with supermarkets and CVS, so we need to view the...

Michael Causton

Discount Drugstores Challenging Japanese Supermarkets

Japan's supermarkets are facing unprecedented challenges from new competition in e-commerce but especially drugstores. We highlight the winners in...

Michael Causton

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

Drugstores in Japan: Winners and Losers

Japan's drugstore sector continues to grow but only a few retailers will emerge as winners as competitors carve out greater market share.

Michael Causton

Japanese Drugstores: The Best Retail Bet Japan Has

Japan's drugstore sector has been written off by many leading analysts in the past. They were wrong then and are wrong now. The sector has plenty...

Michael Causton

Merger between Welcia and Tsuruha under Aeon may happen as FMCG-drugstores increasingly compete with supermarkets and CVS, so we need to view the...