50 domestic brands to be delivered to restaurant owners in Europe. Unpasteurized and limited-edition sakes will also be transported via temperature-controlled air freight through a new logistics network.

STANDAGE Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Akinori Adachi; hereinafter referred to as STANDAGE), a company that develops and provides digital trade platforms, will hold sake tasting events in Paris, France and London, England in May 2023 to increase awareness and cultivate customers for its export project specializing in Japanese food culture.
We will be showcasing approximately 50 brands from 15 sake breweries across Japan, and we anticipate attracting 50 people to each venue, including local restaurant and hotel staff and journalists.
Unlike traditional wholesale schemes, guests can not only sample each brand of sake on the day of the event, but also purchase and stock up on sake on the spot through Standage's cross-border e-commerce platform. This event is sponsored by the Embassies of Japan in France and Japan in the United Kingdom, and is certified as a project subsidized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

■Project Overview and Purpose

Overseas interest in Japanese food and sake is definitely on the rise, and in particular, exports of sake have reached record highs for 12 consecutive years since 2010.

While an increasing number of sake breweries are showing interest in exporting, for small and medium-sized manufacturers, with the exception of a few large-scale operators, the hurdles to entering the export market remain high due to their limited resources.

Furthermore, for overseas restaurants, which are the main buyers, importing is currently done through wholesalers, and there are challenges such as the need to purchase a certain quantity, which limits the range of products that can be imported.

Therefore, Standage developed a dedicated cross-border e-commerce platform that allows sake breweries and buyers to trade directly, and began sales activities to sake breweries in Japan around the fall of 2022. More than 15 sake breweries have expressed their intention to participate.

 

To address local quality control risks and the long lead times associated with container shipping, a new logistics network has been established that allows for transportation to be completed in 5 to 14 days via temperature-controlled air freight. This project has been certified as a subsidized project by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for its contribution to the construction of a cold chain.

In preparation for the full-scale launch of sales around the summer of 2023, we will be holding tasting and ordering events in Paris, France and London, UK, which are our initial focus areas, to announce the service launch and increase awareness and encourage purchases of our services and products in Europe.

 

■Event Overview (Paris, France)

Exhibition periodMay 15, 2023 (Monday) 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM (local time)

venue: Ritz Paris/Salon Psyché

15 PLACE VENDÔME, PARIS, FRANCE

Participation FeeFree (by invitation only)

OrganizerSTANDAGE Co., Ltd.

cooperationIssé & Cie

Pasona Agricultural Support Team

SponsorshipEmbassy of Japan in France

 

■Event Overview (London, UK)

Exhibition period: May 22, 2023 (Monday) 12:00-17:00

venueShochu Lounge

37 Charlotte Street London W1T 1RR

Participation FeeFree (by invitation only)

OrganizerSTANDAGE Co., Ltd.

cooperation: Enshu Ltd.

Pasona Inc. Overseas Business Group

Sponsorship: Embassy of Japan in the UK

Through this event, Standage aims to promote the appeal of sake breweries and sake from all over Japan to the world, and contribute to expanding Japan's exports and revitalizing regional areas.