2025 Market Builder – Japan

Market Scan

provides initial, in-depth market research services for a specific product, including:

• Store Check and Distribution Analysis: Offers the brand names, packages, sizes, regular retail prices, current price specials, and shelf space allotments for similar products.
• Competitive Product Shopping: First-hand information and samples of similar and competing products sold in the market.
• Import Opportunity Analysis: Import regulations and restrictions affecting the importation of your product into a specific market.
• Distributor Referrals: Importer feedback on package size, labeling, taste, appearance, price and marketability.
• Target Importer List: Includes names, contact information and a brief summary of importers’ profiles.

Get to know Jeffrey McNeill, Food Export’s Japan In-Market Representative

Mr. McNeill is President of Market Makers Inc., which has represented Food Export – Midwest and Food Export – Northeast in Japan since 2004. Jeff has lived in Japan for the past 25 years, originally serving as the Director of Marketing for Ore-Ida Foods Japan, a division of Heinz Company, before starting Market Makers in 1987. Jeff has written several publications on the Japanese market for the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, including books on the Japanese Foodservice Market and the Japanese Food Processing Market. In his free time he also serves as Board of Governor of the Tokyo American Club, Vice President of the Harvard Business School Club of Japan and as Board Director for Nishimachi International School in Japan. Jeff has a BA degree from Princeton University and an MBA degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business. Market Makers also currently represents several other U.S. co-operators in Japan, including the Raisin Administrative Committee, The U.S. Dairy Export Council, and the U.S. Dry Bean Council and does work of behalf of U.S. food companies in Japan.

Rep Finder

Rep Finder provides the opportunity for direct meetings between your company and a select group of targeted importers. These opportunities include:

• Distributor Referrals: Importer feedback on package size, labeling, taste, appearance, price and marketability.
• Target Importer List: Includes names, contact information and a brief summary of importers’ profiles.
• In-Market Assistance: A minimum of three one-on-one appointments (should the market allow) will be arranged with participating companies and targeted importers. An International Marketing Executive will assist in communication, interpretation and moderation of meetings.

Products of Interest

Top U.S. products in demand:

• French Fries
• Cheese
• Sausages
• Processed Foods
• Beverages
• Ingredients
• Frozen Prepared Fish roes and livers
• Surimi and minced fish
• Dog and Cat Food
• Baking inputs
• Mixes and dough
• Juices
• Distilled spirits

4

1st Time Export Sales

52

New Distributorships Established

228

New Foreign Buyer Introductions

$3 Million

Projected Sales

$391 Thousand

Actual Sales