Vending machines and convenience stores – or
konbibi as they’re known in Japan – are bucking the trend of Japan’s slow,
post-earthquake recovery and are making the most of new market opportunities.
Today,
Suntory Holdings Ltd. announced that in response to clients’ needs, following
the Great Easter Japan Earthquake, it will install 5000 ‘high-performance’
vending machines which can supply drinks during power outages.
The
disaster-ready machines come in two types: one that stores energy in batteries
and the other that comes with a handle, which can be cranked to generate
electricity.
Vending
machines have been identified as an increasingly important feature on the
streets of Japan in the wake of last year’s disaster.
Although
Kirin Holdings, Japan’s largest food and beverage company, had almost 20,000
million yen losses related to last year’s earthquake, both Kirin and Suntory
saw markedly increased sales in mineral water in the same time period with
Suntory recording a 22 per cent increase on last year’s figures.
And
it’s no surprise. Japan has the highest vending-machine-to-person ratio in the
world with one vending machine for every 23 people. So when most shops closed
down following the disaster, the cheap and convenient jidouhanbaiki was the
natural choice.
In its
business strategy for 2012 Suntory said its vending machines could act as a
“lifeline and offer information communication capacity in the wake of
disasters”.
As a
result the company will also install vending machines that provide free drinks
during disasters and has tested machines that include an electronic disaster
message board in Sendai.
But
Japan’s vending machines aren’t the only success stories from last year’s
earthquake and tsunami.
All
three of Japan’s largest convenience store chains – Family Mart, Lawson Inc. and Seven Eleven
operator, Seven & I Holdings Co. – posted profit increases.
In
fact, profits at all three chains were the highest ever.
The
Wall Street Journal explains how convenience stores became make-shift shopping
centres for many of northern Japan’s people.
“When
41 of the factories that produce for Seven Eleven in the northeast were forced
to close after the earthquake and tsunami, the remaining 128 facilities
rerouted the most essential items up north – rice balls, pre-prepared lunch
boxes and sandwiches. Stock was back to normal less than a month later,
according to the company’s website.
By the
time American forces were arriving on March 12 to begin their joint rescue
operation with Japan, Lawson had already shipped 40,000 cup ramen north, and
Family Mart had provided 100,000 units of noodles, candy and jello to the
disaster-stricken areas, according to their website.”
Although
konbini provide a more familiar shopping experience, it’s important to remember
that there are almost 120 times more vending machines than there are
convenience stores in Japan. This means that expensive but innovative moves
like Suntory’s disaster message board vending machines are not so far-fetched
an idea as some may think.
Vending
machines, and to a lesser extent konbibi, have always been a talking point for
first time visitors to Japan. Whether it’s the variety of items on sale – from
business cards to lettuce grown inside the machine – or their sheer quantity,
they are certainly a national icon. And it’s great to see they’ve bounced back
even stronger.
Anna
Watanabe
Asian
Correspondent.com
Business & Investment Opportunities
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