Retail & Consumer Service Division

Division Strategy
Strengths of the Division
Global Operations
Business Overview
Organization
Latest Information
Products
Links

The Retail & Consumer Service Division is focused on a diverse range of businesses that respond to consumer needs both in Japan and overseas. These businesses include food distribution, consumer goods distribution, marine products/livestock, shopping center management, and real estate. At the same time, the division is enhancing its retail digital transformation and marketing functions.

Division Strategy

We will continue to expand our diverse businesses around the world to enrich and bring convenience to people’s lives.

Sari Miida

Executive Officer, COO
Retail & Consumer Service Division

The Retail & Consumer Service Division has multiple contact points with consumers, which is one of the division’s key strengths, and we will continue to expand our diverse businesses around the world to enrich and bring convenience to people’s lives.

Our focus going forward will be responding to trends in the external environment such as the diversification of consumer tastes and needs as well as changes in developed countries stemming from rising health consciousness and increased interest in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In recent years, we have swiftly worked to restructure our portfolio, accelerate business investments and partnerships for collaboration, and acquire distribution and sales assets for food and consumer goods with a focus on regions including Vietnam, the U.S., and Japan.

Moving forward, we will expand our business volume and services while simultaneously carrying out the necessary business investments to improve distribution and related services. As a division, we will continue to carefully assess the market’s needs, identify the value we can provide, and pursue a competitive advantage. Through this process, we will focus on resourceful solutions to put into effect, and I aim to manage the division to ensure both our people and businesses enjoy mutual growth.

Strengths of the Division

Networks and customer bases established over
many years
Shopping center management track record and consistent
development of real estate business
Top-class position in
market for North
American beef imports
to Japan

Networks and customer bases established over many years through-out Asia
Retail businesses developed to meet the needs of India and ASEAN
countries based on their stage of development
Expertise in management and investment for increasing value of shopping centers
Supply base for food products and consumer goods matched to diversifying lifestyles
Top market share in importing frozen North American beef to Japan

Global Operations

Business Map

Convenience store business：Ministop (Vietnam)

Restaurant and Hospitality business：Royal Holdings

Business Overview

■ Retail Businesses

We are developing retail businesses that meet the needs of ASEAN countries based on their stage of development. Our focus is on developing four businesses in Vietnam: processing and production of prepared food, four-temperature controlled logistics (ambient temperature, fixed temperature, chilled, and frozen), wholesale food and consumer goods, and retail (convenience stores). In November 2023, Sojitz acquired all shares of DaiTanViet Joint Stock Company, Vietnam’s largest wholesaler of commercial food. Sojitz is also working alongside its consolidated subsidiary and major consumer goods wholesaler, Huong Thuy Manufacture Service Trading Corporation, to expand sales channels by leveraging its customer network. Through the capital and business tie-up formed with Royal Holdings in February 2021, we aim to develop a more diverse and broader range of businesses catering to consumers in Japan and overseas.
In addition, Sojitz invested in Indian startup, Intelligent Retail Private Limited, to help accelerate development in India’s growing distribution industry.

■ Shopping Center Management Business, Domestic Real Estate Business

Sojitz Commerce Development Corporation, as the core of the shopping center management business, has continued to utilize its solid track record in operating and improving the value of shopping centers since its founding in 2001. Going forward, we will work to help invigorate local communities by utilizing digital technologies to energize the shopping centers that function as a central component of communities.
In addition, Sojitz is working together with The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. to add value in the rental housing business, and Sojitz strives to provide consumers with optimized living spaces and to offer investors a range of investment opportunities in Japan’s rental housing market.

■ Food Distribution Businesses, Marine Products / Livestock Business

Sojitz acquired all shares of marine food processing company The Marine Foods Corporation in March 2022 and TRY Inc. in April 2023. In June 2022, Sojitz invested in Tastable Co., Ltd., a company that develops, designs, and sells NIKUVEGE plant-based meat.
In this business, we supply consumers around the world with safe foods by calling upon the expertise of numerous Sojitz Group companies. These companies include Sojitz Foods Corporation, which boasts the leading domestic share of frozen beef imports from North America; Sojitz Tuna Farm Takashima Co., Ltd., a tuna farming company; and Meat One Corporation, a marketing company that merges the expertise and functions of multiple companies involved in the procurement, sales, processing, and distribution of meat products.