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)

At least until the Covid-19 crisis hit Japan in January, the majority of retailers were gearing up to announce yet another really good year of financial results for FY2019-20.
Even with the crisis, results were generally better than for FY2018 – although there are big variations by sector.
Those differences are more or less what we’ve come to expect, with traditional formats like department stores continuing to struggle, while those formats that have adopted modern management are doing well.
The following is an in-depth review of Japan's retail sector, providing:
<ul>
<li>An overview of consumer demand and retail performance</li>
<li>Format by format reviews showing growth and profit performance across all the main formats: convenience stores, supermarkets, GMS, consumer electronics, drugstores, homecentres, department stores, apparel, home and other specialty  formats.</li>
<li>Rankings:
<ul>
<li>Market share and size by sector/format</li>
<li>By sales for all retailers with sales over ¥250 billion</li>
<li>By gross and operating margins, split by format and category.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
As this is an in-depth insight, the review is split into two parts to make it easier to read.  This is Part II which provides snapshot reviews of each format/sector. <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/insights/the-japan-retail-review-winners-and-losers-in-japanese-retailing-part-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Part I, which provides a quick overview of all retailing, can be read here</a>.

At least until the Covid-19 crisis hit Japan in January, the majority of retailers were gearing up to announce yet another really good year of financial results for FY2019-20.
Even with the crisis, results were generally better than for FY2018 – although there are big variations by sector.
Those differences are more or less what we’ve come to expect, with traditional formats like department stores continuing to struggle, while those formats that have adopted modern management are doing well.
The following is an in-depth review of Japan's retail sector, providing:

An overview of consumer demand and retail performance
Format by format reviews showing growth and profit performance across all the main formats: convenience stores, supermarkets, GMS, consumer electronics, drugstores, homecentres, department stores, apparel, home and other specialty  formats.
Rankings:

Market share and size by sector/format
By sales for all retailers with sales over ¥250 billion
By gross and operating margins, split by format and category.



As this is an in-depth insight, the review is split into two parts to make it easier to read.  This is Part II which provides snapshot reviews of each format/sector. Part I, which provides a quick overview of all retailing, can be read here.

Japan Retail Review 2019-20 Part II: A Sector by Sector Review of Winners and Losers

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist, LightStream Research

Campbell Gunn

'Quantamental' Japan Specialist

ja research

ja research is an independent research platform focused exclusively on Japanese equities. Leveraging data and graphic analysis provided by Japan Analytics, we provide insights on small and medium-sized companies that have been ignored by the sell-side as well as challenging conventional wisdom on larger companies. We also offer analyst and corporate access, the latter with translation if required. 

<figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/124/934/original/2020-03-27_06-28-40.png?1585258181" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="124934"></figure><div class="content-caption">Source • Japan Analytics</div>THURSDAY 26th MARCH - Yesterday saw six companies reporting results, of which only two -<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/optoelectronics-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:9374:1" rel="noopener">Optoelectronics (6664 JP)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fukushima-printing-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3931:1" rel="noopener">Fukushima Printing (7870 JP)</a> - has positive scores. Seventeen companies revised their forecasts, and one made initial forecasts. In terms of our scoring system, the ratio of positive to negative 'scores' was 5:11, with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/jxtg-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:638:1" rel="noopener">JXTG (5020 JP) </a>being the largest negative-scoring company and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/maxvalu-nishinihon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13743:1" rel="noopener">Maxvalu Nishinihon (8287 JP)</a> being unchanged. Of the six companies announcing results, only two had positive outcomes.<div class="content-caption"><figure class="editor-figure mceNonEditable"><img src="https://static-prod.smartkarma.com/images/media/000/124/936/original/File%202020-03-27%200%2015%2036.jpeg?1585258841" class="editor-image img-responsive" data-smartkarma-image-id="124936"></figure></div><div class="content-caption">Source • NHK</div>GOOD NEWS • BAD NEWS - The good news is that the increase in disclosed cases of Covid-19 outside Tokyo has not increased significantly; Tokyo, however, has seen an alarming rise. Forty-seven new cases were confirmed yesterday, taking the total in the metropolis to 259. Tokyo will implement a 'stay-at-home-policy' this weekend. Surrounding prefectures have encouraged their residents not to travel into the city over the weekend. Amusement parks that had reopened last weekend will now close their doors.ODD NEWS - In other 'news', the Sapporo Board of Education is debating whether to allow students to wear face masks that are not white. In the past, many schools have mandated that children can only have black hair, forcing some children whose hair is naturally lighter to dye their hair black to conform to the 'norm'.

Source • Japan AnalyticsTHURSDAY 26th MARCH - Yesterday saw six companies reporting results, of which only two -Optoelectronics (6664 JP) and Fukushima Printing (7870 JP) - has positive scores. Seventeen companies revised their forecasts, and one made initial forecasts. In terms of our scoring system, the ratio of positive to negative 'scores' was 5:11, with JXTG (5020 JP) being the largest negative-scoring company and Maxvalu Nishinihon (8287 JP) being unchanged. Of the six companies announcing results, only two had positive outcomes.Source • NHKGOOD NEWS • BAD NEWS - The good news is that the increase in disclosed cases of Covid-19 outside Tokyo has not increased significantly; Tokyo, however, has seen an alarming rise. Forty-seven new cases were confirmed yesterday, taking the total in the metropolis to 259. Tokyo will implement a 'stay-at-home-policy' this weekend. Surrounding prefectures have encouraged their residents not to travel into the city over the weekend. Amusement parks that had reopened last weekend will now close their doors.ODD NEWS - In other 'news', the Sapporo Board of Education is debating whether to allow students to wear face masks that are not white. In the past, many schools have mandated that children can only have black hair, forcing some children whose hair is naturally lighter to dye their hair black to conform to the 'norm'.  

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Revisions & Results Alert - 26th March

Equity Bottom-Up

<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/3" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1">Aeon (8267 JP)</a> will radically restructure its entire supermarket operation over the next 18 months, merging 14 chains into the same seven regional administrations set up to run its GMS (General Merchandise Store) chains.
The move has been a long time coming and will lead to further integration and rationalisation of Aeon’s many supermarket subsidiaries.
The group is expecting an immediate, positive impact on profits, and this is probable given similar improvements in profitability following rationalisation at its biggest supermarket operation, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/26107" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26107:1">United Super Markets (3222 JP)</a>.
At the same time, Aeon – which is essentially an agglomeration of acquisitions – continues to buy regional businesses in order to consolidate its already large share of food and drugstore retailing. It bought a stake in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/11419" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11419:1">Fuji Co Ltd (8278 JP)</a>, a major retailer in Shikoku, and indirectly, in Masaya, a drugstore chain in Okayama.

Aeon (8267 JP) will radically restructure its entire supermarket operation over the next 18 months, merging 14 chains into the same seven regional administrations set up to run its GMS (General Merchandise Store) chains.
The move has been a long time coming and will lead to further integration and rationalisation of Aeon’s many supermarket subsidiaries.
The group is expecting an immediate, positive impact on profits, and this is probable given similar improvements in profitability following rationalisation at its biggest supermarket operation, United Super Markets (3222 JP).
At the same time, Aeon – which is essentially an agglomeration of acquisitions – continues to buy regional businesses in order to consolidate its already large share of food and drugstore retailing. It bought a stake in Fuji Co Ltd (8278 JP), a major retailer in Shikoku, and indirectly, in Masaya, a drugstore chain in Okayama.

Aeon: Major Overhaul of Supermarkets, Ties with Fuji (8278)

Japan

MAXVALU NISHINIHON CO., LTD. is a food supermarket chain operator which is mainly located in Western part of Hyogo.  The Company mainly sells daily foods including fresh seafood, processed and frozen foods.

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Maxvalu Nishinihon (8287 JP)

Japan Retail Review 2019-20 Part II: A Sector by Sector Review of Winners and Losers

At least until the Covid-19 crisis hit Japan in January, the majority of retailers were gearing up to announce yet another really good year of...

Michael Causton

🇯🇵 JAPAN • Revisions & Results Alert - 26th March

THURSDAY 26th MARCH - Yesterday saw six companies reporting results, of which only two -Optoelectronics (6664 JP) and Fukushima Printing (7870 JP)...

Campbell Gunn

Aeon: Major Overhaul of Supermarkets, Ties with Fuji (8278)

Aeon (8267 JP) will radically restructure its entire supermarket operation over the next 18 months, merging 14 chains into the same seven regional...

Michael Causton

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