News Release To whom it may concern, Jan.15, 2019 National Supermarket Association of Japan SMTS Executive Committee Exhibition and business meeting event providing the latest information to supermarkets and the food distribution industry "SOU NIPPON Creation Japan" Organization name changed to National Supermarket Association of Japan 3 days from February 13(Wed.) to 15(Fri.), 2019 at Makuhari Messe The National Supermarket Association of Japan [Head Office: Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, President: Kiyoshi Yokoyama (CEO of ARCS COMPANY, LIMITED)] will hold the 53rd SUPERMARKET TRADE SHOW 2019 from February 13 (Wed) to 15 (Fri), 2019, in Makuhari Messe. The event provides a venue to disseminate the latest information on supermarkets and the distribution industry. With the environment surrounding supermarkets in a state of constant change, a diverse range of issue has drawn attention. Reaching the 53rd time of the holding Supermarket Trade Show has continued to play a key role in finding solutions to such varied issues. Setting "SOU NIPPON Creation Japan" as the main theme, we hope the tradeshow will contribute to the building of abundant regional communities in Japan through the efforts of the exhibitors and visitors from throughout the country. With 2,134 companies and organizations exhibiting with 3,547 booths (as of November 1, 2018) the tradeshow is expected to surpass the previous year in scale. This year, 1,526 Japanese regional product manufacturers more than last year will exhibit thanks to the coordination of municipalities and local financial institutions from across Japan. A total of 74 overseas companies from 18 countries are participating with 155 booths introduces a wide selection of products from various countries. As the organizer s project, two new attractions will be introduced. In the movement of promoting an international standard- HACCP, Food Safety and Sanitation zone is established to aim at disseminating information on safety and safety of food supermarkets. At Overseas foods to Japanese table zone, several recipes using unfamiliar overseas food products will be suggested to create additional demands from retailers who are looking for new items. Continuing from last 1
year, organizer s project Future Store NOW Study of Continuing Future Supermarket -will be held. The results and solution of information gathering and research according to the theme of last year will be shown. At the theme zone Handmade in Japan displaying alcoholic beverages made in Japan, local producers focusing on Japan Quality will exhibit in this zone. Japanese wines, whose display standard had been changed in October, 2018, are newly added to existing brewers- Japanese sake, shochu and craft beer. We look forward to your visit at Supermarket Trade Show 2019. Outline Name:The 53rd Supermarket Trade Show 2019 Date:February 13(Wed.), 14(Thu.), 15(Fri.), 2019 10:00a.m. 5:00p.m. Closes at 4:00p.m. on the last day Venue:Makuhari Messe Theme:"SOU NIPPON Creation Japan" Organizer:National Supermarket Association of Japan Official website: http://www.smts.jp/en/index.html Official Support: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry / Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries / Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare / The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry / Agricultural Trade Office, The Embassy of the United States of America / Embassy of Italy Trade Promotion Section / Embassy of Canada / Economic and Commercial Office, Embassy of Spain / Office of Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy / the Royal Danish Embassy / New Zealand Trade and Enterprise / French Embassy - Business France Japan Office / Embassy of Belgium / POLISM INVESTMENT & TRADE AGENCY TOKYO OFFICE / Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo / Economic Division, Embassy of the Republic of South Africa / Trade Commission of Mexico in Japan / Taiwan Trade Center, Tokyo / Food Marketing Institute Japan Organizer s Project Food Safety and Sanitation (Hall 3) This is a corner aimed at disseminating information on food safety of food supermarkets as foodrelated companies will introduce HACCP two years later. Overseas foods to Japanese table (Hall 8) There are many opportunities for overseas products especially which are still unfamiliar in Japan. We present several easy recipes using unfamiliar overseas food products in order to create additional demands from retailers who are looking for new items. Cooking demonstration and free food sampling will be available. 2
Handmade in Japan- Theme zone displaying alcoholic beverages made in Japan (Hall 1) We will introduce the "techniques" and "sentiments" of the creators who prioritize local regions and focus on quality that respect the traditions of Japan. We propose newly adding "Japanese wines and fruit wines" to existing brewers (craft beer, sake, shochu). New product pickup exhibition (focused on Japanese Regional Product) (Hal 9-11, Esplanade) We will exhibit new products that will be displayed in the "SMTS 2019 Japanese Regional Product Zone" for each product category rather than by region, and this will be used as a tool for visitors to efficiently explore the halls. Future Store NOW - the continuous near future supermarket research (Hall 2) The continuous near future supermarket research gives you ideas and possible solutions toward social environment changes such as aging population with declining birthdate, decrease in population and labor shortage. Supermarkets can be one of the essential elements for vitality life and urban development support in near future. OVERSEAS RETAILERS PROGRAM <Overseas PR Program Overseas visitor promotion / investigation> A press conference for Supermarket Trade Show 2019 was held in South East Asia (Vietnam and Taiwan). In order to promote the show and entice visitors, media related to food industry and local retailers were invited. Collected local retailer surveys will be utilized to broaden overseas sales channels for Japanese products in the future. (Outsourced to The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS) ) <Business Matching and Consultation with Buyers from South East Asia@ FTJ 2019> This program broadens Japanese exhibitors possibilities to expand sales channels not only in Japan but also in overseas countries. Overseas buyers such as importers, retailers and restaurateurs from South East Asia are invited, and business matching meetings and consultation will be held based on pre-registration. <Concierge desk for overseas buyers> This is especially optimized for overseas buyers. It will surely help the buyers to find the desired producers and they will find exactly what they are looking for. Business Matching @FTJ2019 [Hall 9] Business matching meeting with distribution buyers will be held. Feb.13 (Wed.) ~Feb. 15(Fri.) Pre-registration is required. The organizer: National Supermarket Association of Japan and The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry 3
Stage Programs [Hall 8 Seminar Stage] Feb.13 (Wed.) 10:10a.m.~11:20a.m. <SMTS Speaks> Title: Impermanence in the field of distribution Speaker: Kiyoshi Yokoyama (Chairman of National Supermarket Association of Japan / CEO of ARCS COMPANY, LIMITED) * Other specialized lectures, panel-discussion and etc. will be organized during the 3 days. * Free attendance * Pre-registration is not necessary. Please come to the venue directly. * Capacity: about 250 * Each seminar will be provided with real time subtitles in English by using speech recognition technology "UD Talk". UD Talk is a communication support and conversation visualization application. By installing the free application UD Talk on your smartphone, you can view subtitles in nearly 30 languages other than English. What is UD Talk? http://udtalk.jp/en/ About Organizer National Supermarket Association of Japan Sakurai Bldg.4F, 3-19-8 Uchi-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0047 Tel:+81-3-3255-4825 Fax:+81-3-3255-4826 Foundation: 1958 (Became an Incorporated Association in 1963. Renamed from Japan Self Service Association to New Supermarket Association of Japan in Sep. 2010. Renamed again to the present association name in Sep. 2018) Chairman: Kiyoshi Yokoyama (CEO of ARCS COMPANY, LIMITED) Members: 313 regular members, 940 supporting members (as of Oct. 2018) Contents of Business Operation: Conducting surveys, research, educational training and qualifying examination, issuing publications, organizing exhibitions, business matching project and etc. all concerning supermarkets. Press Rooms [International Conference Hall, Second Floor 201] The reception for the press during the tradeshow will be in the press rooms. The press rooms will provide cloakroom services and issue important information, in addition to distributing news releases from exhibitors. The press rooms also provide a comfortable working environment. Supermarket Trade Show 4
Organizer s Theme Zone- Future Store NOW SMTS Video http://www.smts.jp/video/master_0327_1900.mp4 5