Why Showcasing U.S. Red Meat in Japan Matters Now More Than Ever
U.S. red meat made a statement at the Supermarket Trade Show in Japan. The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) showcased U.S. pork and beef products for key buyers from Japan’s retail sector during one of the country's biggest food events of the year.
"The supermarket trade show is organized by the Japan Chain Store Association. It is a show specific for the retail company. The main guests coming to the venue are the supermarket companies. Supermarkets are a very big market for us," says USMEF-Japan Marketing Director Tom Kasatani.
He points out that Japan’s food industry is ready to capitalize now on the recent uptick in travel and tourism, which have gradually recovered since the lifting of pandemic-related restrictions.
"The number of tourists is now above the pre-COVID level since last October. When you walk around the Tokyo area or some tourist area like Osaka, Kyoto, etc, you can see lots of tourists walking around. The hotel rate has increased quite a lot due to the many guests staying, mainly tourists," Kasatani says. "Recently, tourists preferred, 'Oh, I want to eat sushi or I want to eat tempura.' Now, tourists dine everywhere, like ramen noodle shop or quick service restaurant or beef bowl restaurant, which used to be only the Japanese customer area. So yes, we're hoping many tourists can come and eat U.S. beef and pork cuisine in Japan."
In early March, USMEF will lead similar efforts at FOODEX, Japan’s largest food trade show. USMEF’s participation in Supermarket Trade Show and FOODEX is made possible through funding provided by USDA, the National Pork Board, the Beef Checkoff Program and the Texas Beef Council.
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