Japan food service sales inch up 1% in Q1

Thanks to increased opportunities to dine out.

Food service sales in Japan for the first quarter of 2016 saw a marginal increase of 1% YoY, according to a report by NPD Group. The uptick in sales reflects a boost in opportunities to eat out.

The report reveals, however, that after taking into account the leap year, sales stay the same as in 2015.

It also asserts that eating opportunities extends its negative growth in Q1, after taking into account the leap year.

Meanwhile, the report notes that the growth of snacking opportunity has mostly benefited convenience store sales, leaving fast food sales in the dust. The report posits that the advent of brewed coffee in convenience stores has lured customers away from fast food.

Further, the report also states that consumers may have refrained from purchasing snacks after tax increases were made in the country.