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Due to rapid increases in unit prices, staple foods in Japan showed robust retail sales value growth in 2025. However, there was another year of retail volume decline, mainly due to these price increases, which, since 2022, have been triggered by global ingredient cost increases. A weak Japanese yen has also affected prices, especially for imported products and those with a high proportion of imported ingredients, such as sugar and flour. Another reason for the price increase is soaring logistics costs due to the “2024 issue” in Japan (a social issue regarding logistics, with a lack of truck drivers).
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Staple Foods industry in Japan with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to a comprehensive range of core packaged food categories.
If you're in the Staple Foods industry in Japan, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Staple Foods in Japan report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Staple Foods in Japan?
- Which are the leading brands in Staple Foods in Japan?
- How are products distributed in Staple Foods in Japan?
- How is the rise of e-commerce and/or the expansion of modern grocery retail impacting traditional retail?
- What are the key health and wellness concerns driving, or challenging, sales in Staple Foods?
- How significant are vegan and vegetarian dietary requirements in determining sales growth in Japan?
- How has COVID-19 impacted consumer demand? To what extent have lockdown, home seclusion and stockpiling boosted sales? Will the longer term economic repercussions of the pandemic stimulate or suppress future growth?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
- How significant will values-based claims, such as sustainability and ethical labelling, be in supporting future growth and brand equity?
Staple Foods in Japan
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Sharp price increases fuel category volatility in 2025
Convenience factor remains important to busy consumers
Post-pandemic interest in health and wellbeing remains high
Shrinking population expected to lead to volume decline
Current value growth will remain largely driven by high prices
Convenience factor will continue to shape category fortunes
Yamazaki Baking retains the lead in a highly fragmented industry
Second-ranked player gains ground in 2025
Supermarkets remains the leading distribution channel in Japan
Health and beauty specialists and e-commerce are gaining popularity
Table 1 Sales of Staple Foods by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 2 Sales of Staple Foods by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 3 Sales of Staple Foods by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 4 Sales of Staple Foods by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 5 NBO Company Shares of Staple Foods: % Value 2021-2025
Table 6 LBN Brand Shares of Staple Foods: % Value 2022-2025
Table 7 Penetration of Private Label by Category: % Value 2020-2025
Table 8 Distribution of Staple Foods by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 9 Forecast Sales of Staple Foods by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 10 Forecast Sales of Staple Foods by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 11 Forecast Sales of Staple Foods by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 12 Forecast Sales of Staple Foods by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
Summary 1 Research Sources
Baked Goods in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Current value growth thanks to ongoing inflation
Domestic wheat in demand as costs rise
Dessert pies and tarts benefits from high prices and indulgence trend
Provenance set to remain in the spotlight
Focus on wellbeing likely to deepen in the years ahead
Baked goods expansion to continue through innovation and convenience trend
Innovation through indulgence and seasonal rotation
Private label benefits from price rises as consumers tighten their belts
Convenience stores leads distribution as local consumers splash out on indulgent baked goods
Health and beauty specialists sees growth as wellness trends deepen
Table 13 Sales of Baked Goods by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 14 Sales of Baked Goods by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 15 Sales of Baked Goods by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 16 Sales of Baked Goods by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 17 Sales of Pastries by Type: % Value 2020-2025
Table 18 NBO Company Shares of Baked Goods: % Value 2021-2025
Table 19 LBN Brand Shares of Baked Goods: % Value 2022-2025
Table 20 Distribution of Baked Goods by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 21 Forecast Sales of Baked Goods by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 22 Forecast Sales of Baked Goods by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 23 Forecast Sales of Baked Goods by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 24 Forecast Sales of Baked Goods by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
Breakfast Cereals in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Breakfast cereals sees growth across all metrics in 2025
Breakfast cereals perform well as time-saving meal solutions
Hot cereals slumps as consumers seek ease and convenience of preparation
Affordability and healthy profile allow breakfast cereals to remain popular post-pandemic
Breakfast cereals set to maintain momentum in the years ahead
Popularity may extend beyond traditional consumption occasions
Grains will remain in the spotlight
Competition driven by premiumisation and functional innovation
Nissin Cisco augments its share by tapping into demand for functionality
Supermarkets remains the leading distribution channel for breakfast cereals in 2025
Health and beauty specialists benefit from channel expansion
Table 25 Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 26 Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 27 Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 28 Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 29 NBO Company Shares of Breakfast Cereals: % Value 2021-2025
Table 30 LBN Brand Shares of Breakfast Cereals: % Value 2022-2025
Table 31 Distribution of Breakfast Cereals by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 32 Forecast Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 33 Forecast Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 34 Forecast Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 35 Forecast Sales of Breakfast Cereals by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
Processed Fruit and Vegetables in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Modest growth for processed fruit and vegetables in 2025 amid high inflation
Frozen fruits and vegetables are in demand as fresh fruits and vegetables experience supply issues
Acia bowls drive demand for frozen fruit
Fractionation in the price of fresh food will encourage a shift to frozen options
Processed beans as meal toppers set to remain on-trend
Mottainai concept set to attract consumer attention
Hagoromo Foods Corp leads a fragmented category
Private label gains share rapidly as prices rise
Health and beauty specialists benefit from an increasing variety
E-commerce continues its upward trajectory, albeit from a relatively low base
Table 36 Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 37 Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 38 Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 39 Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 40 Sales of Frozen Processed Vegetables by Type: % Value Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 41 NBO Company Shares of Processed Fruit and Vegetables: % Value 2021-2025
Table 42 LBN Brand Shares of Processed Fruit and Vegetables: % Value 2022-2025
Table 43 Distribution of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 44 Forecast Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 45 Forecast Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 46 Forecast Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 47 Forecast Sales of Processed Fruit and Vegetables by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives To Meat in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Marginal growth for processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat in 2025
Salad chicken fuels processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat sales in Japan
Fish and seafood remain key ingredients in many popular Japanese dishes
Price increase set to hamper processed fish sales in the years ahead
Healthy, high-quality protein offers strong growth potential
Meat substitutes set to struggle as the boom slows down
Itoham Foods continues to lead processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat in Japan
NH Foods holds second place, but private label gains ground as consumers tighten their belts
Store-based retailers continue to dominate the distribution landscape
E-commerce slowly gains ground from a low base
Table 48 Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 49 Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 50 Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 51 Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 52 Sales of Shelf Stable Processed Red Meat by Type: % Volume Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 53 Sales of Chilled Processed Red Meat by Type: % Volume Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 54 Sales of Frozen Processed Red Meat by Type: % Volume Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 55 Sales of Frozen Processed Poultry by Type: % Value Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 56 Sales of Frozen Processed Seafood by Type: % Value Breakdown 2020-2025
Table 57 NBO Company Shares of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat: % Value 2021-2025
Table 58 LBN Brand Shares of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat: % Value 2022-2025
Table 59 Distribution of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 60 Forecast Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 61 Forecast Sales of Processed Meat, Seafood and Alternatives to Meat by Category: Value 2025-2030
Rice, Pasta and Noodles in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Surge in current value growth reflects soaring prices
Rice prices double due to poor harvests and high production costs
Pasta benefits from soaring rice prices, with increased consumption
Further challenges ahead for Japan’s staple grain
Convenience factor will remain a key driver of innovation
Korean instant noodles brands set to see expansion
JA group leads a fragmented and challenged category in 2025
Private label is the main beneficiary of rising prices
Supermarkets continues to lead distribution in 2025
E-commerce continues to gain ground, but brick-and-mortar retailers remain the preferred choice
Table 62 Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: Volume 2020-2025
Table 63 Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: Value 2020-2025
Table 64 Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025
Table 65 Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025
Table 66 Sales of Instant Noodles by Leading Flavours: Rankings 2020-2025
Table 67 NBO Company Shares of Rice, Pasta and Noodles: % Value 2021-2025
Table 68 LBN Brand Shares of Rice, Pasta and Noodles: % Value 2022-2025
Table 69 NBO Company Shares of Rice: % Value 2021-2025
Table 70 LBN Brand Shares of Rice: % Value 2022-2025
Table 71 NBO Company Shares of Pasta: % Value 2021-2025
Table 72 LBN Brand Shares of Pasta: % Value 2022-2025
Table 73 NBO Company Shares of Noodles: % Value 2021-2025
Table 74 LBN Brand Shares of Noodles: % Value 2022-2025
Table 75 Distribution of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 76 Distribution of Rice by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 77 Distribution of Pasta by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 78 Distribution of Noodles by Format: % Value 2020-2025
Table 79 Forecast Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: Volume 2025-2030
Table 80 Forecast Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: Value 2025-2030
Table 81 Forecast Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: % Volume Growth 2025-2030
Table 82 Forecast Sales of Rice, Pasta and Noodles by Category: % Value Growth 2025-2030
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Staple Foods
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- Packaged Flat Bread
- Unpackaged Flat Bread
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- Packaged Leavened Bread
- Unpackaged Leavened Bread
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- Packaged Cakes
- Unpackaged Cakes
- Dessert Mixes
- Frozen Baked Goods
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- Packaged Pastries
- Unpackaged Pastries
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- Sweet Pies and Tarts
- Frozen Cakes, Sweet Pies and Tarts
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- Hot Cereals
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- Children's Breakfast Cereals
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- Flakes
- Muesli and Granola
- Other RTE Cereals
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- Shelf Stable Beans
- Shelf Stable Fruit
- Shelf Stable Tomatoes
- Shelf Stable Vegetables
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- Frozen Fruit
- Frozen Processed Potatoes
- Frozen Processed Vegetables
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- Shelf Stable Processed Red Meat
- Shelf Stable Processed Poultry
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- Chilled Processed Red Meat
- Chilled Processed Poultry
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- Frozen Processed Red Meat
- Frozen Processed Poultry
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- Shelf Stable Seafood
- Chilled Processed Seafood
- Frozen Processed Seafood
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- Chilled Meat and Seafood Substitutes
- Frozen Meat and Seafood Substitutes
- Shelf Stable Meat and Seafood Substitutes
- Tofu and Derivatives
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- Chilled Noodles
- Frozen Noodles
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- Instant Noodle Cups
- Instant Noodle Pouches
- Plain Noodles
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- Chilled Pasta
- Dried Pasta
- Rice
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Staple Foods
NOTE: Couscous, polenta and quinoa are excluded from staple foods.
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This report originates from Passport, our Staple Foods research and analysis database.
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