Kyuso Circulation System
Basic Information
- Stock Code
- 9369
- Industry
- Warehousing and Transportation Related Industry
- Category Detail
- Land Transportation
- Prefecture
- Tokyo
- Establishment Year
- February 1966
- Listing Year
- September 1995
- Official Website
- https://www.krs.co.jp/
- TSE Information
- TSE Information
- Yahoo! Finance
- Yahoo! Finance
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Overview
Kyuso Circulation System is a major food logistics company founded in 1966, with Kewpie as its parent company and holding a top-class market share in frozen and refrigerated transportation.
Current Situation
Kyuso Circulation System achieved consolidated sales of 195.192 billion yen and operating profit of 5.562 billion yen in the fiscal year ending November 2024. While primarily handling logistics for the Kewpie Group, it is expanding non-group customers, with the Kewpie ratio accounting for only 6.2% of operating revenue. It excels in frozen/refrigerated and chilled transportation, enhancing customer satisfaction through joint delivery service 'Kyuso Express.' Through its subsidiaries, it offers diverse logistics functions such as warehousing, transportation operations, and customs clearance, strengthening domestic and international logistics networks. In recent years, it has focused on advance investments in overseas markets, autonomous driving transport experiments, and advanced low-temperature logistics technologies, while promoting cost competitiveness and environmental burden reduction. On the sustainability front, it is proactive in developing efficient delivery systems and management structures that consider social responsibility. Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Standard Market, it aims for medium- to long-term sustainable growth leveraging its solid financial base and stable customer foundation.
Trivia
Interesting Facts
- The company name 'Kyuso' derives from parent company 'Kewpie Warehouse' and features unique notation.
- The 'Kyuso Express' logo on truck beds is widely recognized in the food industry.
- Rare case of transition from Kewpie subsidiary to equity-method affiliate in 2021.
- Known as a community-oriented company headquartered in Chofu City.
- Contributed to industry efficiency through early introduction of joint delivery services.
- Overseas subsidiaries deploy low-temperature logistics in China and Indonesia.
- Strength in logistics center operations for major CVS.
- Diversified operations from vehicle sales to insurance agency.
- Challenging future logistics with autonomous driving truck experiments.
- High employee corporate participation consciousness via employee stock ownership plan.
- Adopts board of auditors governance structure.
- Forms rare diverse subsidiary group in logistics industry.
- Top market share in refrigerated/frozen truck transportation services.
- Long-term contribution to local economy as Chofu warehousing business.
- Achieves cost superiority through unique joint delivery network.
Hidden Connections
- Developed from separation and independence of Kewpie's logistics function, maintaining strong ties with parent company.
- Holds minority stakes with influence in related major food industry players like Toyo Suisan.
- Specializes in food logistics while also handling sales and maintenance of industrial vehicles to support overall logistics.
- Autonomous driving technology experiments are among the leading in Japan, known for collaboration with Glico.
- Overseas operations actively serve parent company and non-group clients, bridging Japan and Asia.
- Subsidiaries handling logistics center operations are strong in both supermarket and convenience store formats, with deep ties to retail industry.
- Multifaceted logistics services by group of subsidiaries stand out in scale and quality within the industry.
- Contributes to local logistics infrastructure development with several logistics buildings around headquarters.
Future Outlook
Growth Drivers
- Expansion of food logistics demand domestically and internationally
- Advancement of low-temperature logistics technology and increasing market needs
- Logistics efficiency through autonomous driving and AI technologies
- New market development through customer diversification
- Service expansion in response to strengthened environmental regulations
- Expansion of logistics networks in overseas markets
- Improved cost competitiveness through joint delivery
- Enhanced collaboration with local communities and brand value improvement
- Automation and digitalization of logistics centers
- Productivity improvement through talent development and workstyle reforms
Strategic Goals
- 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
- Double overseas business sales from current levels
- Full-scale introduction of autonomous driving technology into logistics operations
- Establish 40%+ domestic share in frozen/refrigerated transportation
- Achieve DX completion through smartification of logistics bases
- Build sustainable logistics model for the entire group
- Sustain employee satisfaction above 80%
- Expand service lineup to meet diverse logistics needs
- Build thorough safety management system
- Strengthen community contributions to solidify status as community-oriented company
Business Segments
Logistics for Food Manufacturers
- Overview
- Handles overall food industry logistics, providing services specialized in quality and time management.
- Competitiveness
- Stable supply leveraging Kewpie Group's logistics expertise
- Customers
-
- Major food manufacturers
- Small and medium food producers
- Agricultural product processors
- Products
-
- Frozen/refrigerated transportation
- Joint delivery service
- Warehouse storage service
- Packaging and crating operations
Dedicated Logistics for Retailers
- Overview
- Builds dedicated logistics systems for retail chains to achieve efficient logistics.
- Competitiveness
- Extensive logistics network in Kanto and Kansai regions
- Customers
-
- Major supermarkets
- Convenience stores
- Food wholesalers
- Products
-
- Logistics center operations
- Transportation business
- Inventory management
- Transportation arrangements
Import/Export Logistics and International Forwarding
- Overview
- Provides integrated support including overseas logistics to assist international logistics.
- Competitiveness
- Local responsiveness and customs expertise through overseas subsidiaries
- Customers
-
- Import/export companies
- Manufacturers
- Trading companies
- Products
-
- Customs clearance operations
- Forwarding
- Warehouse storage
- International transportation services
Vehicle Sales, Maintenance, and Management Services
- Overview
- Provides centralized maintenance of vehicle infrastructure and facility management.
- Competitiveness
- Comprehensive support system tailored to logistics sites
- Customers
-
- Own vehicles
- Group companies
- External customers
- Products
-
- Vehicle sales
- Industrial vehicle maintenance
- Facility management
- Fuel sales
Competitive Advantage
Strengths
- High technological capabilities in frozen/refrigerated transportation
- Strong ties with Kewpie Group
- Nationwide logistics network
- Deployment of diverse logistics service functions
- Stable financial base
- Employees' extensive industry experience and long service years
- Active expansion into overseas markets
- Efficient joint delivery system
- Initiatives to reduce environmental impact
- Diversified management through group of subsidiaries
Competitive Advantages
- High specialization and market share in food logistics
- Stable order base from parent company Kewpie
- Wide-area transportation network with thorough temperature control
- Initiatives in advanced technologies such as autonomous driving transportation
- Vertical integration of logistics value chain through diverse subsidiaries
- One-stop service utilizing domestic and international logistics bases
- Risk management capabilities based on long industry experience
- Development of logistics systems considering environment and society
- Customized service provision for each customer
- Flexible delivery methods and time-saving responses
Threats
- Rising fuel prices and labor costs
- Difficulty in securing talent due to labor shortage
- Intensifying price competition from competitors
- Performance fluctuations due to seasonal variations in logistics volume
- Initial investment burden for new technology introduction
- Logistics network disruptions from natural disasters
- Costs to comply with strengthened environmental regulations
- Logistics delays due to impacts like COVID-19 pandemic
- Political and economic risks in overseas markets
- Industry regulatory changes from legal amendments
Innovations
2024: Introduction of AI optimization for joint delivery network
- Overview
- Optimizes delivery routes with AI to improve transportation efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
- Impact
- 10% reduction in fuel consumption, 15% shorter delivery times
2023: Launch of autonomous driving truck transport experiment
- Overview
- Conducts proof-of-concept experiments for autonomous driving technology in transportation sites in collaboration with Glico and others.
- Impact
- Builds foundation for improved logistics efficiency and safety
2022: Introduction of IoT temperature management system for frozen/refrigerated warehouses
- Overview
- Real-time monitoring of temperature fluctuations in warehouses to strengthen quality control.
- Impact
- Significant reduction in quality incident rate, improved customer satisfaction
2021: Promotion of digitalization of overseas logistics bases
- Overview
- Renews warehouse management systems at bases in China and Indonesia for efficiency.
- Impact
- 20% reduction in operational costs
Sustainability
- Promotion of updating to fuel-efficient vehicles
- CO2 emissions reduction through delivery route optimization
- Introduction of energy-saving equipment in refrigerated warehouses
- Strengthening employee safety and health measures
- Promotion of waste recycling
- In-house rollout of environmental education programs
- Environmental conservation activities in collaboration with local communities
- Setting standards for low-environmental-impact product transportation
- Promotion of sustainable procurement
- Environmental management system via ISO14001 certification