Yokohama Cold Storage
Basic Information
- Stock Code
- 2874
- Industry
- Wholesale Industry
- Category Detail
- Food Manufacturing
- Prefecture
- Kanagawa Prefecture
- Establishment Year
- May 1948
- Listing Year
- December 1962
- Official Website
- https://www.yokorei.co.jp/
- TSE Information
- TSE Information
- Yahoo! Finance
- Yahoo! Finance
- Other Companies
- Kyokuyo, Nissui, Maruha Nichiro, Hayashikane, Hagoromo Foods, DelSole, Ichimasa Kamaboko, Asahi Matsu Foods, Natori, STI Food Holdings, Kibun Foods, Okamura Food Industry, Nichimo
Overview
Yokohama Cold Storage, founded in 1948, is one of Japan's leading refrigerated warehouse operators and a prominent industry player with food wholesaling centered on seafood products as its main business.
Current Situation
Yokohama Cold Storage achieved consolidated sales of approximately 133.8 billion yen and operating profit of about 3.8 billion yen in the fiscal year ended September 2023, maintaining a stable financial base. The food wholesale division, its main business, accounts for over 80% of sales, with seafood products comprising about 70%. The refrigerated warehouse business boasts the industry's second-largest capacity and operates logistics bases in more than 50 locations across Japan. For overseas expansion, it has established a local subsidiary in Thailand, where it conducts refrigerated warehouse and wholesale operations. It also features regionally focused initiatives, such as the contract farming system with the Tokachi Agricultural Cooperative. Through its transition to the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market in 2022 and the opening of state-of-the-art facilities to strengthen logistics, it has solidified its medium- to long-term growth foundation. In terms of sustainability, it has built a management system focused on reducing environmental impact and is advancing efficiency in customs clearance operations. Against this backdrop, it plans to continue pursuing synergies from the integration of food wholesaling and refrigerated warehousing to drive business expansion.
Trivia
Interesting Facts
- Deploys joint contract farming system with Hokkaido Tokachi production areas
- Refrigerated warehouse capacity is No. 2 in Japan, over 1 million tons
- Seafood assortments popular as shareholder benefits
- Head office located in Yokohama Connect Square in Minato Mirai
- Established in 1948, a long-standing refrigerated logistics company
- High reliability as a Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime listed company
- Also handles customs clearance at major ports nationwide
- Owns more than 50 refrigerated and frozen warehouses
- Opening smart centers to improve logistics efficiency
- Focuses on expanding sales channels for regional products
Hidden Connections
- Strong producer linkages through contract farming with Hokkaido Meimu Town
- Established local subsidiary in Thailand to advance Asian expansion
- Serves as uniform sponsor for Yokohama FC, contributing to local economy
- Handles customs at major ports like Daikoku Pier, strong in import/export logistics
- Builds sustainable relationships with farmers through Tokachi Green Owners Club system
- Shareholder benefits also contribute to promoting regional seafood
- Establishes unique position in industry through fusion strategy of food wholesaling and warehousing
- Aggressively introduces latest technology in frozen/refrigerated logistics
Future Outlook
Growth Drivers
- Rising consumer awareness of food safety
- Increased demand from enhanced brand value of regional products
- Growing low-temperature logistics needs with e-commerce market expansion
- Strengthening international logistics network and Asian market expansion
- Advancement of energy-saving logistics technology to meet stricter environmental regulations
- Ongoing logistics efficiency improvements through digitalization
Strategic Goals
- Elevate warehouse capacity to top in Japan
- Achieve carbon neutrality to reduce environmental impact
- Expand contract farming system nationwide through regional collaboration
- Complete introduction of advanced digital management system
- Further expand overseas bases and increase sales ratio
- Sustainably establish safe and secure food distribution
Business Segments
Refrigerated Warehouse Business
- Overview
- Utilizes more than 50 refrigerated and frozen warehouses nationwide to provide safe food storage and logistics services.
- Competitiveness
- Achieves high-quality storage through extensive warehouse network and temperature control technology
- Customers
-
- Food manufacturers
- Logistics companies
- Wholesalers
- Trading companies
- Retailers
- Food service operators
- Products
-
- Frozen food storage services
- Fresh fish and seafood storage
- Agricultural and livestock products storage
- Logistics center operations
Food Wholesaling Operations
- Overview
- Mainly handles seafood and agricultural/livestock products, stably supplying retailers and business customers nationwide.
- Competitiveness
- Establishes integrated system of direct-from-origin contract farming and customs clearance operations
- Customers
-
- Food retailers
- Restaurant chains
- Processed food manufacturers
- Importers
- Local wholesale markets
- Products
-
- Frozen seafood wholesaling
- Frozen livestock products wholesaling
- Processed products wholesaling
- Direct-from-origin foods
Customs Clearance and Logistics Support Services
- Overview
- Supports customs clearance at port areas and bases, as well as overall logistics efficiency.
- Competitiveness
- Rapid customs processing enabled by strong base presence around ports
- Customers
-
- Importers
- Exporters
- Logistics companies
- Food manufacturers
- Products
-
- Customs clearance agency
- Logistics center management
- Cargo transport coordination
Competitive Advantage
Strengths
- One of the largest refrigerated warehouse capacities in Japan
- Nationwide dispersed logistics base network
- High market share in seafood wholesaling
- Long-term contract farming system with production areas
- Expertise in customs clearance and port collaboration
- Stable financial base
- Credibility from Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market listing
- Superior food safety management system
Competitive Advantages
- Overwhelming storage capacity with more than 50 refrigerated bases
- Customer needs met through specialization in seafood wholesaling
- Direct-from-origin agricultural/livestock procurement network
- Total support with customs services at major ports nationwide
- Efficient food distribution via integrated logistics system
- Strong customer and shareholder support from shareholder benefit products
- Reliability and brand power based on long years in the market
- Enhanced quality and safety management through introduction of latest equipment
Threats
- Rising cost pressures in food refrigerated logistics
- Risk of impact on warehouses and distribution networks from natural disasters
- Increased compliance burden from strengthened food safety regulations
- Declining demand due to Japan's shrinking population
- Intensifying competition from rivals' logistics efficiency and price wars
- Risks to import/export customs from changes in international situation
- Impact of climate change on seafood and agricultural/livestock supply
Innovations
2023: Eniwa Smart Logistics Center Completion
- Overview
- Opened a logistics base in Eniwa City, Hokkaido, equipped with the latest refrigeration and freezing facilities.
- Impact
- Significantly enhanced logistics efficiency and food freshness retention capabilities
2022: Transition to Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market
- Overview
- Reclassified to Prime Market following Tokyo Stock Exchange market structure reform.
- Impact
- Contributes to improved corporate credibility and expanded investor base
2020: Tsukuba Logistics Center Completion
- Overview
- Opened a large-scale logistics center exceeding 1 million tons in capacity.
- Impact
- Achieved nationwide transport efficiency through strengthened logistics bases
2021: Equipment Expansion for Thailand Subsidiary
- Overview
- Introduced latest equipment to Thailand refrigerated warehouse operations to improve service quality.
- Impact
- Enhanced competitiveness and business expansion in Southeast Asia market
2023: Introduction of Digital Temperature Management System
- Overview
- Introduced system for real-time monitoring of warehouse temperatures using IoT sensors.
- Impact
- Contributes to food quality maintenance and management cost reduction
Sustainability
- CO2 emissions reduction through energy-saving equipment introduction
- Promotion of food loss reduction programs
- Environmental conservation activities in collaboration with local communities
- Promotion of environmentally considerate logistics
- Improved working environment through strengthened safety and health management