One of Japan's largest department store chains, Mitsukoshi, announced June 31, 2007, that it is going into business with an organic vegetable delivery business run by the Association to Preserve the Earth, a Japanese non-governmental organization (NGO) that promotes organic farming and farm products. Mitsukoshi teamed up with Daichi Co., the NGO's distribution company, to launch a membership-based home-delivery service on October 1 called "Mitsukoshi Kurashi no Goyotatsu-Bin" (roughly translated as Convenient Lifestyle Delivery from Mitsukoshi" It offers members home delivery of Daichi's fresh organic vegetables and goods as well as groceries and prepared foods sold in the bottom floors of Mitsukoshi stores. The companies expect in the first year to attract up to 3,000 members and achieve sales of 200 million yen (about U.S.$1.6 million).

Mitsukoshi has been working on new business ideas based on the "one-stop, on-demand" business model, which aims to offer a wide range of goods and services to fulfill the needs of its varied customers with different lifestyles, on demand in one place. The link with Daichi allows Mitsukoshi to sell Daichi's farm products and use its distribution network as its own high-quality, value-added home delivery service, offering even more convenience to customers.

As for the Daichi Home Delivery Service, with its high-quality farm products, selected using its own stringent quality standards, and a superior delivery tracking system, this collaboration is an opportunity to expand its market and develop a more stable and larger supply system, while further promoting healthy foods like organic vegetables and contributing to the sustainable development of this primary industry.


http://www.mitsukoshi.co.jp/store/fcs/english/1010/index.html

Posted: 2007/11/19 09:01:49 AM
Japanese version

TAG Food/Water , NGO/Citizen , Non-manufacturing industry