Shokubun

Basic Information

Stock Code
9969
Industry
Retail
Category Detail
Bento & Delivery Services
Prefecture
Aichi Prefecture
Establishment Year
December 1977
Listing Year
April 1994
Official Website
https://www.shokubun.co.jp/
TSE Information
TSE Information
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! Finance
Other Companies
Demaecan, Del Sole, Fandeli, Nichi Enter, Ride On Express Holdings, Muraki, Sanko Sangyo, Silver Life

Overview

Shokubun is a food delivery service company founded in 1977 and based in Aichi Prefecture. It is a leading retailer in the Chubu region with strengths in delivering dinner ingredients and selling care meals.

Current Situation

Shokubun recorded consolidated sales of approximately ¥6.8 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2021 and is expanding ingredient home delivery services centered on the Chubu region. Its core revenue comes from dinner ingredient delivery and business-use ingredient sales, and it is expanding into care meals. The major shareholder is Kamishin Holdings, and following the capital and business alliance, it is pursuing business growth by leveraging group synergies. It has a community-oriented delivery network with sales bases in Aichi, Mie, Gifu, and also in Osaka and Kyoto. Within the industry, it competes with companies like Demaecan and Fandeli while focusing on distinctive ingredient delivery. In recent years, it has been promoting diversification of its food service business through subsidiaries and advancing operational efficiency via digitalization. Looking ahead, it positions the growing demand for care meals amid an aging society and the deepening of region-specific products as key growth drivers. It maintains rigorous food safety and quality controls while strengthening community ties.

Trivia

Interesting Facts

  • Originally founded as Yoshikei Aichi and later renamed to the current brand
  • Awarded the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Prize as an excellent food service provider
  • Strengthened business foundation as a Kamishin Holdings subsidiary
  • Headquartered in Moriyama Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, building a Chubu network
  • Early entrant into care food delivery in the ingredient home delivery industry, showcasing expertise
  • Conducts R&D and menu creation through multiple subsidiaries
  • Community-based collaborations with diverse channels like supermarkets
  • Official Instagram shares product info and lifestyle ideas

Hidden Connections

  • Capital alliance with major shareholder Kamishin Holdings, now under the group
  • Shares origins with Yoshikei brand and related food delivery business
  • As a Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award winner, has track record of food-related government collaborations
  • Extensive sales network across multiple Chubu prefectures, greatly influencing local diets
  • Subsidiary Food Culture Lab contributes to restaurant industry via menu support

Future Outlook

Growth Drivers

  • Expanding care food demand from aging society
  • Growth of home delivery ingredient market in Chubu
  • Product diversification for rising health trends
  • Leveraging synergies within Kamishin Holdings Group
  • Efficiency gains from advanced logistics and IT
  • Enhanced customer loyalty via region-specific ingredients
  • Strengthened online sales channels
  • Elevated brand value through food safety and reliability

Strategic Goals

  • Expand care food sales to 30% of total
  • Strengthen market entry beyond Chubu
  • Reduce logistics CO2 emissions by 50%
  • Revolutionize customer services via digitalization and AI
  • Promote coexistence with communities and sustainable management

Business Segments

Business Ingredient Supply

Overview
Provides stable ingredient supply tailored to diverse industry needs.
Competitiveness
Community-based operations and diverse product lineup
Customers
  • Restaurant Chains
  • Catering Providers
  • Hospitals & Care Facilities
  • Welfare Facilities
  • School Lunches
  • Employee Cafeterias
  • Hotels
  • Elderly Facilities
  • Daycares
  • Food Processing Plants
Products
  • Frozen Ingredients
  • Ready-to-Cook Foods
  • Care Meals
  • Bento Ingredients
  • Safety-Certified Ingredients
  • Rice Dishes
  • Prepared Food Sets
  • Processed Vegetables
  • Frozen Seafood
  • Health Supplements

Ingredient Research & Menu Development

Overview
Supports ingredient research, studies, and menu/recipe creation.
Competitiveness
Technical expertise from the Food Culture Lab leveraging specialized knowledge
Customers
  • In-House Group
  • Other Food Companies
  • Restaurants
  • Dietitian Groups
  • Care Facilities
  • Medical Institutions
Products
  • Menu Creation Support
  • Ingredient Testing
  • Quality Management
  • Nutritional Analysis
  • Cooking Instruction

Competitive Advantage

Strengths

  • Strong customer base in the Chubu region
  • Diverse ingredient delivery services
  • Expertise in care food sector
  • Community-based delivery network
  • Stable management foundation from capital alliance
  • R&D capabilities via subsidiaries
  • Extensive product lineup
  • Flexible response to customer needs
  • Reliable food safety management
  • Long industry experience
  • Improving brand recognition
  • Efficient logistics system
  • Superior sales organization
  • Close community collaboration
  • Employees' specialized knowledge and skills

Competitive Advantages

  • Leader in Chubu dinner ingredient delivery market
  • Differentiated products in care food market
  • Stability from capital and business alliance with Kamishin Holdings
  • Technical edge in proprietary menu research via subsidiary
  • Community-based delivery and flexible logistics
  • Adaptability to diverse customer segments
  • Food services tailored to aging society
  • Strict selection and management of safe, reliable ingredients
  • Product development rooted in local food culture
  • Efficient ingredient procurement network
  • Prompt customer service and quality
  • Integrated services from wholesale to delivery

Threats

  • Market share threats from competitors
  • Uncertainty in demand shifts due to aging
  • Rising ingredient prices and procurement risks
  • Logistics disruptions from natural disasters
  • Risk of food safety incidents
  • Decline in competitiveness from digital lag
  • Increased business costs from stricter regulations
  • Rapid changes in consumer preferences
  • Rise of new entrants
  • Risk of reputational damage
  • Service degradation from delivery staff shortages
  • High quality demands for health-oriented products

Innovations

2023: Advanced Care Meal Menus

Overview
Collaborated with specialized subsidiary to achieve both nutrition and taste in elderly care meals.
Impact
Enhanced market competitiveness and customer satisfaction

2022: Digitalization of Logistics and Delivery

Overview
Introduced smartphone app for route optimization to improve delivery efficiency.
Impact
Reduced delivery costs and improved service quality

2021: Online Ordering System Overhaul

Overview
Upgraded ordering platform to mobile-friendly for better customer convenience.
Impact
Acquired new customers and increased repeat business

Sustainability

  • Promoting local production for local consumption through ties with regional farmers
  • Optimized delivery planning to reduce food waste
  • Expanded use of recyclable packaging
  • Introduced low-emission logistics vehicles
  • Conducted environmental education for employees