CCCMK Research Institute releases June 2021 "Industry Trends Report" and "Industry Weather Forecast"

2021.08.05 Press Releases
CCC Marketing Co., Ltd. CCC Marketing Research Institute

- The ability to recognize small signs makes a difference in business performance -

CCC Marketing Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as "CCCMK Research Institute"), a research institute at CCC Marketing Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Kazuhiko Kitamura), which disseminates the thoughts of 70 million people, has published the June 2021 "Industry Trend Report" and "Industry Weather Forecast" ( https://www.cccmk.co.jp/thinktanks/industry-05 ) has been announced.

The "Industry Trends Report" and "Industry Weather Forecast" published by CCCMK Research Institute combine receipt data from users of the household accounting app "Recica," which allows users to earn T-points with shopping receipts, with surveys of companies conducted by researchers at CCCMK Research Institute to conduct original research on consumer trends and outlooks in seven retail industries: convenience stores, supermarkets, drugstores, home improvement stores, restaurants, department stores, and shopping centers.

The ability to detect small signs makes a difference in business performance

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is having a variety of effects on attracting customers, but it appears that there are differences in the ability of businesses to respond to the pandemic. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic making it clear that demand for home-cooked meals is returning, supermarkets are performing well, but few companies have made major revisions to their products during this time, and it seems unclear whether this good performance will continue in the future. Eating at home has been going strong for a long time, but looking at trends over the past few months, we are starting to see signs of fatigue and a return to eating at home. Like supermarkets, drug stores and home improvement stores have also been hit by the changes in lifestyles brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, but few companies are taking proactive measures such as changing their product lineups, and it will be interesting to see how long they can maintain their good performance in the future.

Meanwhile, convenience stores, which have struggled for a long time, have been gradually recovering their performance by changing store layouts and reviewing product lineups. Although there are still a certain number of stores, such as those in urban areas, that are in a difficult situation due to the significant drop in customer numbers, major chains appear to be beginning to find clues to a recovery in performance. The frozen food category, which has been continuously strengthened, has seen sales growth at almost all chains, and some companies have even achieved a stable customer base. Sales of boxed lunches and prepared meals, which were one of the reasons for the company's struggles, are now clearly showing signs of recovery thanks to the introduction of products that respond to changes in the environment, such as the increase in remote work.
Among food businesses, the restaurant industry has been hit the hardest, remaining largely unable to operate and finding itself in a situation with no end in sight. In particular, the decline in usage during dinner hours, which account for a large portion of sales, has directly led to a decline in business performance, forcing pubs, izakayas, and dinner restaurants into a situation where it is difficult to maintain operations. In this environment, the trend towards changing business models is gradually expanding, and in some areas there has been a sudden increase in usage. The key to this change in business model is the shift from eating out to eating at home, and there is a growing trend for restaurant businesses that have grown by differentiating themselves from other food genres by offering freshly cooked food to find new opportunities by offering products that are "delicious even if not freshly cooked."The increase in the number of "eel specialty stores," a business model that was once considered outdated, is also due to the availability of products that can be ordered for takeout. From a similar perspective, famous bento shops across Japan have been hit hard by the stagnation of tourism, with many businesses being forced into bankruptcy, but there is ample potential for them to turn their business around if they can take advantage of the power of their products, which are delicious even when cooled.

It is expected that some impacts on consumption will remain even after the COVID-19 pandemic, but whether or not companies take measures to respond to changes in consumers during this time will undoubtedly have a significant impact on their future performance. Can you seize even the smallest opportunities to discover growth opportunities? It will likely become increasingly important to continue making unremitting efforts even in a tough environment and respond to the needs of consumers.

"Industrial Weather Forecast" for June 2021

Information provided by CCC Marketing Research Institute

・Awareness survey of social transformation and lifestyle changes from the consumer's perspective
・A survey to understand the characteristics of generations and regions based on data from 70 million people
・Disseminating survey results through online seminars
・"Industry Trends Report" and "Industry Weather Forecast" provide monthly reports on consumer trends and outlooks for seven retail industries

・Name: CCC Marketing Research Institute (CCCMK Research Institute)
・URL:https://www.cccmk.co.jp/thinktanks
・Established: July 21, 2020
・Director: Minoru Niihashi

He is affiliated with domestic and international consulting companies and think tanks. He provides consulting services in a wide range of fields, from upstream to downstream, including developers, theme parks, luxury brands, department stores, hotels, restaurants, cafes, shopping malls, railways, energy, and food manufacturers.

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CCCMK Research Institute releases June 2021 "Industry Trends Report" and "Industry Weather Forecast"

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