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Foodison and Tabelog: A New Approach to Local Food Distribution

In a groundbreaking initiative, Foodison Co., Ltd. and Tabelog, a leading restaurant search and reservation service operated by Kakaku.com, have teamed up to tackle the persistent challenges faced by local governments in Japan regarding the promotion and sales of regional food products. The collaboration aims to create new value for local ingredients by leveraging Foodison's robust fresh food distribution platform coupled with Tabelog's powerful media presence.

The Need for Change

For years, municipalities across Japan toiled over the problem of local food promotion. Traditional methods, such as exhibitions and regional fairs, yielded only temporary results, failing to establish ongoing transactions or increased consumption of local products. Local food fairs often prioritized processed seafood products, largely sidelining fresh fish and other perishable goods. Moreover, while there is a strong demand from restaurants for new and locally-sourced ingredients, the lack of a seamless connection between producers and eateries presents a significant hurdle.

Foodison has long worked on building diverse distribution and sales channels that connect production areas with consumers. These channels include their fresh food e-commerce service 'Uopochi', a retail shop for fresh fish 'Sakana Bacca', and a recruitment service for food industry professionals known as 'Food Personnel Bank'. By continuously participating in proposals from local governments, Foodison aims to strengthen its ability to address local challenges.

On the other hand, Tabelog operates Japan's largest gourmet site, featuring information on around 890,000 restaurants. With an unparalleled media base, Tabelog supports restaurants in attracting customers and enhancing their public relations efforts. Users can conveniently search for restaurants using reviews, ratings, and other detailed information while completing reservations online.

Integration of Strengths

Recognizing the complementary strengths of both companies, this collaboration believes it can effectively advance the goals of local governments in promoting local products' circulation in metropolitan areas and enhancing the public image of regional ingredients for tourism and inbound strategies.

Implementation Overview

The collaboration will systematically support the use of local foods on menus from supply to consumption in metropolitan restaurants:

1. Strengthening Local Food Promotion via Tabelog

Local ingredient menu fairs organized by local governments will be effectively promoted on Tabelog to encourage restaurant utilization of these items.

2. Ensuring Stable Supply through Uopochi

The distribution platform 'Uopochi' will enable a reliable and smooth supply chain for local ingredients to restaurants. Restaurants can incorporate local products into their menus with confidence.

3. Dual Focus on Consumption Expansion and Local Government Promotion

By promoting the use of local ingredients in metropolitan restaurants, the initiative aims to achieve both increased consumption and enhanced visibility for local governments.

4. Collaborating on Inbound Tourism Strategies

The plan also includes sharing English-language information to attract inbound tourists, linking regional fairs with global interest.

First Step: Promoting Ehime Prefecture

The first phase of this collaboration will focus on Ehime Prefecture. The aim is to expand the market for approximately 200 varieties of local food products from Ehime in the Tokyo and Kansai regions, showcasing the richness of Ehime's cuisine to the nation.

Future Outlook

Both entities plan to actively engage in proposals and experiments with local governments to develop a sustainable model for regional food distribution. This partnership aspires to unlock the potential of Japan's diverse local food offerings and contribute to regional revitalization nationwide.

About Tabelog

Tabelog enriches dining experiences by providing a restaurant search and reservation service. With over 890,000 listings, users can explore a wealth of restaurant information enhanced by user-generated reviews and photographs, making it easy to find a suitable dining option.

Website: Tabelog

About Uopochi

Uopochi aims to simplify the procurement process for chefs by offering a wide variety of products sourced from various production areas across Japan. The service ensures that restaurants can maintain their unique concepts while efficiently managing their inventory.

Website: Uopochi

Company Profiles

Kakaku.com, Inc.

• - URL: Corporate Kakaku
• - CEO: Atsuhiro Murakami
• - Location: 3-5-7 Ebisu Minami, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
• - Founded: December 1997
• - Business: Planning and operation of websites and apps, as well as providing various platforms.

Foodison, Inc.

• - URL: Foodison
• - CEO: Toru Yamamoto
• - Location: 3-3-7 Kachidoki, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
• - Founded: April 1, 2013
• - Business: Management of e-commerce services for food products targeted at restaurants, fresh fish retail, and food industry recruitment.