Restaurant chain sales dip in 1st half
TOKYO —
Japanese restaurant chain sales fell 1.2% in the first half of this year from a year before on a same-store basis, industry data showed Monday. The fall was due mainly to soaring gasoline and food prices, which caused consumer sentiment to worsen, the Japan Food Service Association said.
Family restaurants were hardest hit with a 3.6% decline in sales. Performance was worse in suburban areas than in urban areas, signaling that high gas prices affect restaurants that rely on motorists.
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FairandBalanced
How about allowing the import of US vegetables, especially potatoes.
The quality will be higher, costs cheaper for businesses and consumers, it will help to kickstart the economy.
Japanese will also be safe in the knowledge that the food is the safest in the world, guaranteed!!
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Kwaabish
Just guarantee to make sure no tomato or scallions from the US are imported.... did they lift the ban yet?
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Altria
It's true, people are going in and ordering drink bar only.
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Sarge
Home-cooked meals are best anyway.
Hey, roomtemperature, I hear that if you eat out in your country, there's a good chance that you'll assume - ahem - room temperature. Hee hee!
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thepossum
"The fall was due mainly to soaring gasoline and food prices, which caused consumer sentiment to worsen, the Japan Food Service Association said."
Soaring food prices I understand. Tokyo is just too expensive considering the small quantity and poor dining conditions one must endure. Ex, screaming kids, loud music, shouting waiters etc.
But gas prices ? Can't figure that one out. Don't most people commute by train in the large cities ? I've never driven my vehicle to a restaurant in Tokyo or any of the outskirts. I'm more inclined to think that the general economic malaise in Japan continues. Consumers are simply unhappy with what's available and are probably saving their money for trips overseas, where I'm sure they will splurge to excess !
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roomtemperature
"Ex, screaming kids, loud music, shouting waiters etc."
In Japan???? Well, let's just say to try to exaggerate again.
Anyway...
In some parts of the world this is very normal. And everywhere around the world it's normal as well...depending on the type of restaurant, of course.
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redrightntrue
possum, excellent post,
"Soaring food prices I understand. Tokyo is just too expensive considering the small quantity and poor dining conditions one must endure. Ex, screaming kids, loud music, shouting waiters etc."
I feel your pain. It is virtually impossible to find a quiet romantic dinner place without being forced to pay an arm and a leg. Most family restaurant chains are noisy, poorly staffed, and simply uncomfortable. Throw in the poor service and well, the results are pretty clear. I'd suggest that Japan's restaurant association re-train their waiters and waitresses to offer better customer service. For example, customers should not have to holler across the room for service, the staff should be more conscientious. Get rid of the "do-it-yourself" nomihodais. Waiters and waitresses should be doing this work. Offer up larger portions of food ! Look, we know the stuff is coming in from China anyway, so stop stiffing the customer. Put smoking areas in the back of the restaurant. Why is it everytime I enter a restaurant I have to pass through the smoking to get to the non-smoking ? McDonalds Japan is notorious for this. Basically, restaurant chains in Japan have to admit that customers would rather stay home and cook for themselves than deal with the unpleasantries of the current family restaurant environment.
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