Nine in 10 Japanese businesses won't sell U.S. beef
Fewer than one in 10 Japanese restaurants and retailers plan to immediately stock U.S. beef once Japan resumes imports of U.S. product, according to a survey by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
Only 7.4 percent of businesses indicated they would immediately resume selling U.S. beef, once it ships to Japan, probably in late July.
Fifty percent of businesses said they had no plans to resume beef imports and some 30 percent said they would wait and see, depending on price, health concerns and other variables.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun polled 60 major restaurants and retailers. By comparison, 60 percent of businesses polled in November said they would stock U.S. beef.
Reaction currently is all over the proverbial map. Restaurant chain Yoshinoya D&C Co., known for its popular "gyudon" bowls of shaved beef on rice, said it is eager to resume sales of the dish with U.S. beef, which it says gives the dish its signature flavor.
However, a spokesman for supermarket chain Ito-Yokado Co. said, "We have no plan to sell U.S. beef for the time being, even if imports resume, because consumers are still concerned." The chain will carry U.S. beef when — and if — it believes consumer sentiment has changed.
Fewer than one in 10 Japanese restaurants and retailers plan to immediately stock U.S. beef once Japan resumes imports of U.S. product, according to a survey by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
Only 7.4 percent of businesses indicated they would immediately resume selling U.S. beef, once it ships to Japan, probably in late July.
Fifty percent of businesses said they had no plans to resume beef imports and some 30 percent said they would wait and see, depending on price, health concerns and other variables.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun polled 60 major restaurants and retailers. By comparison, 60 percent of businesses polled in November said they would stock U.S. beef.
Reaction currently is all over the proverbial map. Restaurant chain Yoshinoya D&C Co., known for its popular "gyudon" bowls of shaved beef on rice, said it is eager to resume sales of the dish with U.S. beef, which it says gives the dish its signature flavor.
However, a spokesman for supermarket chain Ito-Yokado Co. said, "We have no plan to sell U.S. beef for the time being, even if imports resume, because consumers are still concerned." The chain will carry U.S. beef when — and if — it believes consumer sentiment has changed.