Commitments to the Circular Economy

Responsibilities to Customers on Food

Basic Approach

Ryohin Keikaku aims to provide truthful and sustainable life for all through food. We develop and produce enjoyable, delicious foods that consider safety and security, changes in regions and lifestyles, health and balanced nutrition.

We will fulfill our responsibilities to customers on manufacturing from customer viewpoint encompassing all stages from product planning and selecting factories to manufacturing and sales. We will listen to customer opinions and provide appropriate and relevant information.

Goals

Ryohin Keikaku carries out rigorous quality control to ensure food safety and security.

In addition, we aim to enrich lifestyles with food through manufacturing that makes the best use of nutritional balance and ingredients in accordance with diverse regions, lifestyles and preferences.

Initiatives

1 | Food Safety

Ryohin Keikaku has its own legally compliant standards called the "Ryohin Standards," designates food additives for use, and sets expiration dates. In addition, we select ingredients and devise processing and packaging methods to reduce the use of food additives.

Before launching a new product, we apply the "Ryohin Standards" to ensure rigorous quality control. This includes verifying whether product specifications and content will remain safely intact until the expiration date, and whether the cooking instructions are easy to understand.

In addition, we ensure that the food we provide through restaurants and ready-made meals also conforms to the "Ryohin Standards."

2 | Quality Control at Factories

Ryohin Keikaku audits its contract manufacturing partners using its proprietary factory evaluation survey format. We created this format with reference to international food safety standards such as Codex HACCP, ISO 22000, and FSSC 22000, and we only outsource manufacturing to certified factories. We also continuously ensure safety and improve quality though regular on-site inspections.

3 | After-Sale Improvements

We gather and internally share stores feedback, customer inquiries, defects, complaints and other issues through dedicated in-house system. The information are used to improve subsequent product development.

4 | Responsible Marketing

Ryohin Keikaku complies with laws and regulations such as the Act on Japanese Agricultural Standards, the Food Sanitation Act, the Food Labeling Act, the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, and the Fair Competition Code for product packaging and advertising.

In addition, we are always considerate of customers and do not use expressions that are discriminatory in terms of race, gender, age or other characteristics. We give due consideration to ensure that product packages accurately represent contents, and product names and product copy use simple words, not superlatives.

We are making our products easier to understand in ways such as using icons for the spiciness of curry and decaffeinated beverages.

5 | In-house Training

Ryohin Keikaku conducts food labeling training and taste tester workshops for store staff to promote understanding of the "Ryohin Standards" and to support legal compliance. In addition, we hold in-house briefings on the Guidelines for Food Additive Non-Use Labeling announced by the Consumer Affairs Agency in 2022, and we are committed to labeling that does not mislead customers.

6 | Product Development That Considers Health

Ryohin Keikaku has responded to changing lifestyles and to the demand for healthy meals by developing frozen meals that provide easy access to vegetables and protein. We have also addressed the growing concern about carbohydrates and protein that has resulted from the increase in lifestyle-related diseases by developing a lineup of products with 10 grams or less of sugar and another lineup with high protein.

In addition, we are developing products with consideration for the varying lifestyles of customers and the extension of healthy life expectancy. For example, we have developed caffeine-free beverages out of concern for the pronounced effect of caffeine on children and pregnant women.

7 | Development of Plant-Based Products

Ryohin Keikaku gives due consideration to the growing diversity of eating habits, rising health awareness and the reduction of environmental impact. We are continuing to develop plant-based products including alternative foods such as meat made from soybeans in pouched products and curries that do not use meat or eggs.