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Meiji Extends The Stenaifact Factory Until April 2025

In response to positive customer feedback, Meiji Co., Ltd. has chosen to prolong the duration of its innovative store, "The Stenaifact Factory," located within the Saitama Prefectural Fish Wholesale Market, until the end of April 2025. Launched on December 7, 2024, this store specializes in selling dairy products and other items that are still safe to consume but have surpassed their shipping deadlines. The initiative aligns with Meiji's commitment to mitigating food waste and promoting sustainability, offering consumers an economically viable option to purchase high-quality products nearing their expiration dates.

The store has garnered considerable attention from local shoppers, who have expressed strong support for Meiji's efforts to tackle food waste. Testimonials from customers include sentiments such as, "This is a fantastic initiative for reducing food waste," and "I want to contribute as much as I can to the fight against food loss." Initially set as a temporary project to assess its viability, the store's continued operation reflects Meiji's responsiveness to customer demand and a shared desire to address the pressing issue of food wastage.

Operational Details

• - Store Name: The Stenaifact Factory
• - Location: Saitama Prefectural Fish Wholesale Market, 2-226-1 Yoshinocho, Kita-ku, Saitama City
• - Hours: 6:00 AM - 10:00 AM
• - Closed: Sundays, Wednesdays, and public holidays, adhering to the market’s schedule
• - Products Sold: Refrigerated items, primarily yogurt and dairy products

As part of its broader environmental goals outlined in the 2026 mid-term management plan, Meiji aims to reduce product waste in its food sector by more than 50% compared to 2016 levels by the end of fiscal year 2025. Strategies to achieve this include stabilizing the supply-demand balance, extending the shelf life of products, and modifying expiration date labeling protocols.

Additionally, the existence of the "one-third rule" in retail—which requires suppliers to deliver products within one-third of their shelf life—poses a significant challenge. When products do not meet this guideline, despite having ample remaining shelf life, they often go unsold and contribute to waste. To combat this, Meiji has engaged in redistributing these products to food banks and children's dining facilities across Japan, which helps minimize waste and support communities.

The founding of The Stenaifact Factory aims to counteract this excess, embodying the company's commitment to ensuring that edible products are not discarded unnecessarily. The initiative not only promotes sustainability but also creates an opportunity for consumers to savor delicious food while contributing to the national movement against food waste.

Meiji recognizes that every product sold at The Stenaifact Factory carries immense potential to not only delight customers but also contribute to significant ecological progress. By guiding customers towards responsible consumption, the company aspires to turn waste reduction into a community effort, bringing smiles to faces while fostering a more sustainable future for the environment.

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Conclusion

Through the extension of The Stenaifact Factory's operations, Meiji continues to challenge the status quo of food waste in Japan. The store represents a proactive step towards sustainability by allowing customers to engage in responsible purchasing while enjoying quality products that would otherwise go uneaten. As more consumers become aware of their purchasing choices, Meiji hopes to inspire collective action towards a future where food waste is minimized and sustainability is prioritized.