#Japan #Tokyo #Office Lunch #Minna no Shashoku #Ohtani Naoyuki

Minna no Shashoku Welcomes Naoyuki Ohtani as COO

On May 1, 2026, Minna no Shashoku, a company specializing in providing famous restaurant meals for corporate cafeterias, announced that Naoyuki Ohtani has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer (COO). This strategic move aims to fortify the operational structure drawing from Ohtani's extensive experience in startup support and the food industry.

Minna no Shashoku prides itself on offering high-quality meals sourced from popular restaurants with high ratings on Tabelog, Japan's prominent restaurant review site. This service is designed not only to provide delicious lunches but also to enhance internal communication among employees and improve their overall experience at work. The company aims to contribute to solving various challenges faced by businesses while creating a new revenue stream for partnered restaurants.

Naoyuki Ohtani brings a multifaceted background to his new role; he has experience in establishing his own food business and has worked as a senior capitalist at Gazelle Capital, assisting numerous startups in their operational growth. With Ohtani's involvement, Minna no Shashoku plans to elevate service quality and reinforce a sustainable operational framework.

Executive Structure

• - CEO: Takehito Saito
• - Directors: Satoshi Ishikawa, Hideo Fujii, Juntai Suzuki
• - Outside Director: Kaoru Hosoda
• - COO: Naoyuki Ohtani (New)

Background of the Appointment

Only 0.3% of the 1.77 million companies in Japan possess employee cafeterias, amounting to just 5,433 establishments, leaving most employees without access to quality lunch experiences. As companies increasingly focus on returning to the office amidst rising real wages and impending tax reforms that will increase the non-taxable limit for meal allowances, the need for attractive employee benefits is more significant than ever. Minna no Shashoku has crafted a system that provides delicious lunches from renowned restaurants without operating its own kitchen, addressing this pressing issue.

Since its service launch in June 2025, Minna no Shashoku has consistently experienced a backlog of corporates eager to implement the service, indicating a strong demand. In light of this rapidly changing environment, the newly established COO position aims to enhance operational security and provide reassurance to both corporations and partnered eateries.

As the new COO, Ohtani aims to develop a scalable and error-free operational model drawing lessons from both his entrepreneurial ventures in food services and his experience in venture capital.

Commitment to Customer Experience

Both the company and Ohtani emphasize a commitment to providing delightful dining experiences to as many offices as possible. By focusing on the client, they aim to foster smiles and conversations over meals, forming a solid relationship with customers and franchise partners to build a scalable operating system.

Profile of Naoyuki Ohtani

Ohtani's career began at Apple Japan, where he spent six and a half years working in various roles, from repair and sales to training staff nationwide. While studying at university, he founded a limited liability company in Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, where he gained hands-on experience in food business operations, from food trucks to beef farming. He managed stores at Blue Bottle Coffee for a year starting in 2020 and later contributed to FacePeer Inc. in business planning and sales management. In December 2023, he joined Gazelle Capital, focusing on supporting startup investments and management.

Vision for Minna no Shashoku

“My career has always aimed to enrich everyday life for people,” stated Ohtani. His diverse experiences have, in fact, played a crucial role in shaping his approach to the business, which he believes is linked by the goal of providing delightful and enriching experiences through food. Ohtani is excited to embark on this journey with Minna no Shashoku, aiming to create memorable dining experiences that foster better teamwork and enhance the workplace environment.

Comments from CEO Takehito Saito

From the company's early days, we have intentionally separated management from execution. While our board includes experienced leadership from major food delivery services, we faced challenges due to the execution being solely under my responsibility. With the addition of Ohtani—who possesses a balanced mix of operational experience and startup support—we expect to dramatically accelerate our execution speed and enhance the customer experience further.

About Minna no Shashoku

Minna no Shashoku is a unique service that allows businesses to incorporate popular dishes from top-rated restaurants as their company cafeteria meals. With options available from once a week, this service changes menus and venues regularly, ensuring that employees enjoy a diverse and exciting lunch experience for just 500 yen per meal. The service aims not only to tackle the lunch predicament faced by offices but also to foster a sense of togetherness among employees through shared meals.

Contact Us: https://minshoku.jp/contact/

Company Overview

• - Company Name: Minna no Shashoku Co., Ltd.
• - CEO: Takehito Saito
• - Established: June 19, 2024
• - Capital: 100,000,000 yen
• - Business Description: Planning and operation of the famous restaurant meal service Minna no Shashoku
• - Location: 1-10-5 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan
• - Website: https://minshoku.jp/lp02/