Agricultural Research Institute, which operates "farmers' direct sales outlets" in supermarkets mainly in urban areas across Japan, will begin a business partnership with "Yasai Bus," a joint delivery system that connects local producers and consumers, starting October 1st.
Leveraging the strengths of both companies, this partnership aims to stabilize regional agriculture, revitalize retail stores, and provide value to producers. By sharing logistics networks, sales channels, and products through this business alliance, they aim to build a new business model.
The Farmers' Direct Sales Outlet is a unique distribution platform that delivers and sells fresh agricultural products collected from collection points nationwide to farmers' direct sales outlets (in-shops) set up inside supermarkets in urban areas in as little as one day.
<Farmers' direct sales outlet>
By allowing producers to produce agricultural products without being bound by standards and to determine their own selling prices and destinations through free distribution, this system increases producers' income and reduces food waste. For consumers, it realizes a safe, secure, and cost-effective distribution of agricultural products.
Yasai Bus is a joint delivery system connecting local producers and buyers, founded in March 2017 by M-Square Lab and Suzuyo.
<Vegetable Bus>
They have built a system that delivers products from local production areas to consumption areas as quickly as possible, often on the same day, and are developing a new distribution system in various regions that benefits both producers and buyers.
The two companies will share their respective logistics networks, including their bases, to improve efficiency through joint delivery and address social issues such as driver shortages and rising fuel costs.
Furthermore, mutual sales of products from trading producers can lead to expanded sales channels and increased value for the producers.
The National Agriculture and Food Research Institute stated that it will continue to take on challenges through cross-industry collaboration, based on its corporate policy of "realizing sustainable agriculture and enriching the lives of consumers."
