Food and beverages retail sales revenue in Japan 2021, by channel

Supermarkets were the main sales channels within the Japanese food retail sector. Separated into two categories according to sales floor size, small-sized supermarkets with a floor area of 16,146 square feet accounted for around half of the food sales in Japan, with close to 237 billion U.S. dollars in 2021. The convenience store sector followed as the second largest retail channel, making use of high customer frequency and its flexibility in changing the store assortment according to customer needs.

Edibles in the retail sector

Food and beverages were the largest segment in retailing, distributed throughout the country via efficient store and non-store sales channels. E-commerce platforms have been offering around-the-clock shopping services for groceries in recent years, with major supermarket operators joining the competition to protect their market share. However, only a minority of consumers made use of mail-order and online supermarket services, as brick-and-mortar stores persist as the main points of sales for edible groceries.

What food do Japanese consumers buy?

Japanese food traditions are praised as a healthy diet, which combines fresh ingredients and fermented produce into a balanced meal. Households spent on average over 60 thousand Japanese yen on food and beverages per month. But the top food expense items were prepared foods and meals outside of the home. With household structures changing and daily lives getting busier, homemade meals using fresh produce are becoming rare, working in favor of the convenience food segment and food service businesses.