From June 22-26, 2025, the 'New Distribution & Tameng Distributor Retail Supply Chain Japan Deep Study Tour' was successfully held! The study tour focused on the following topics:

  • Transformation and development of Japan's distribution industry
  • Operating systems of major Japanese distributors (shosha)
  • Development status of major Japanese retail formats
  • Japanese retail supply chain systems
  • Synergy between product development and supply chain This study tour was New Distribution's first visit to Japan's distribution industry. More than 20 people, including major distributors from across China and the New Distribution team, gathered in Japan. They visited the ACCESS warehousing and distribution center, a third-party logistics company of Kobe Bussan, where the center's head personally explained the logistics center's operating model. They inspected various Japanese retail stores, including Business Supermarket, LOPIA, OK Supermarket, Don Quijote, and Aeon. Nishida Satoshi explained Kobe Bussan's development and business logic. Nakayama Kaori shared insights on product development and supply chain synergy under 7-Eleven's chain operations. Tanaka Yasunari interpreted Japan's distribution industry structure and the VMI business model. Nobuta Yoji explained 7-Eleven's supply chain and logistics. New Distribution CEO Ren Wenqing, Chief Content Officer Yuan Lai, and Chief Research Advisor Qi Te accompanied the group throughout, listening, observing, and discussing. Finally, they reviewed Japan's production-supply-marketing model and discussed the business direction and strategies for domestic distributors over the next five years. Entering Japan's Distribution Industry This visit was customized for domestic distributors, using a format of 'classroom sharing + on-site visits + interactive Q&A', aiming to help participants thoroughly understand Japan's distribution industry structure, current situation, and corporate development strategies, truly achieving 'hands-on experience, on-site learning, and deep connections'. On the morning of the 22nd, Mr. Nishida Satoshi, independent director of Kobe Bussan, shared 'Kobe Bussan', helping participants fully deconstruct Kobe Bussan's business model and integrated production-supply-marketing strategy, and visit stores to build systematic understanding. On the afternoon of the 22nd, they visited the ACCESS warehousing and distribution center, a third-party logistics company of Kobe Bussan, where the center's head personally explained the logistics center's operating model. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the supply chain system behind Kobe Bussan. On the evening of the 22nd, former 7-Eleven product division instructor Nakayama Kaori shared 'Product Development and Supply Chain Synergy under 7-Eleven's Chain Operations', systematically explaining 7-Eleven's product development strategy. Former 7-Eleven product division instructor Nakayama Kaori On the morning of the 23rd, former Itochu Corporation executive Tanaka Yasunari shared 'Japan's Distribution Industry Structure and VMI Business Model', explaining in detail from scratch Japan's distribution industry development path, strategies of large distributors (shosha), the operating status of small and medium distributors, and Japan's integrated retail-supply model. Former Itochu Corporation executive Tanaka Yasunari On the afternoon of the 23rd, to deepen understanding of the downstream retail end, they inspected various Japanese retail stores, including Business Supermarket, LOPIA, OK Supermarket, Don Quijote, and Aeon. On the morning of the 24th, 7-Eleven logistics system expert Nobuta Yoji shared '7-Eleven's Supply Chain and Logistics', further analyzing 7-Eleven's supply chain strategy from a logistics supply chain perspective. 7-Eleven logistics system expert Nobuta Yoji On the afternoon of the 24th, they finally reviewed Japan's production-supply-marketing model and discussed the business direction and strategies for domestic distributors over the next five years. Why Enter Japan's Distribution Industry? As the first stop of New Distribution & Tameng's overseas study tours, 'New Distribution' carefully considered and ultimately chose Japan as the first country to visit. After research, we believe that the structure and industry cycle of the distribution industries in China and Japan are highly consistent, such as:

Historically, there were a large number of small and medium-sized distributors.

The distribution chain is long, with at least two levels, just like China.

The industry cycle has experienced or is currently experiencing a contraction phase. Now that Japan has basically emerged from this contraction cycle, from the perspective of the commercial distribution industry, the characteristics of the industry structure are: Small and medium-sized distributors have basically exited the market.

The distribution chain has been compressed to only one level.

Surviving distributor companies are highly embedded in the production-supply-marketing system. Through overseas visits, learning from history, we systematically sorted out the evolution path and competitive landscape of Japan's distribution industry. By comparing Chinese and foreign markets, we can more clearly identify the future value positioning of Chinese distributors/supply chain enterprises. This study tour was extremely information-dense and full of practical insights, but due to space limitations, we will not elaborate further. 🔺 Details of the 7th China FMCG Conference Scan the QR code for ticket inquiries