Japan Food Service Journal articles

Recent articles from Japan Food Service Journal

Restaurant same-store sales off 6.4% in FY2002.(says Japan Foodservice Association report)(Brief Article)
June 25, 2003... Members of the Japan Foodservice Association report that same-store sales fell 6.4% year on year in FY2002 while overall sales, including new shops, climbed a modest 0.8%. The same-store decline included a drop of 2.7% in yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurants, as customers still shied away from...

Convenience chain Lawson takes pioneering no-additive approach.(Lawson Inc. stocking only preservative-free products)(Brief Article)
June 25, 2003... Lawson is implementing new voluntary standards for its food product suppliers and gradually eliminating additives from its food products. Beginning in early May, outlets of the convenience store in the Tokyo and Osaka areas stopped carrying house-brand products with preservatives. The 160...

Chains try creating local variety in menus, service.(Brief Article)
June 25, 2003... Restaurant chains known for menus, uniforms and service that never vary from shop to shop are starting to introduce local variations designed to lure customers. McDonald's Japan is now offering menu items unique to the Tokyo, Shizuoka and Hiroshima areas, the last area with a sandwich...

Izakaya expanding hours, menus to draw in female diners.(pubs and restaurants make changes to encorage women's custom)(Brief Article)
June 25, 2003... Izakaya, the traditional Japanese pubs that have long kept late hours and attracted a mainly male clientele, are now making changes designed to appeal to female customers. Tasco System and Tsubohachi have a few shops that have recently begun serving lunch at inexpensive prices. Tsubohachi has...

Tofu-based dessert shops popping up.(Brief Article)
June 25, 2003... Tofu is the key dessert ingredient at a number of new shops around Tokyo, although in at least some of those shops the menu recalls dishes associated with the ancient capital Kyoto. One popular dish right now is Nama Yuba Amami Soft. The ice cream-like dessert features soybean caseins, adzuki...