Company name: inSeason, Inc.
     No. Employed:
77
URL: www.inseason.co.jp/
Address: 5-18-9, Shiroganedai,
Minato-ku, Tokyo
Business Description: The basic concepts of inSeason, Inc. are "Enjoy in-season foods" and "Safety, Beauty and Health", which are supported mostly by women. Over time individuals have become more sensitive to the importance of food safety. The company offers foods made from vegetables grown with organic compost and with less agricultural chemicals, and foods with no preservatives and no synthetic seasonings.

The company has opened 14 deli stores in department stores and along roads in suburban areas and other locations. The company also has begun to wholesale products to premium supermarket stores and organically-oriented foreign coffee shop chains, with sales activity to a welfare related company. In the autumn of 2001, inSeason Inc. started an "OEM" type of supply to a premium deli company and also began wholesaling products to seven premium supermarket stores owned by a major department store company.
Market, Competition and Clients: The food sales sector of department stores has grown 3-4% over the past few years. This is most likely due to the increased presence of women in the work force. As more Japanese families experience dual incomes, women are becoming increasingly receptive to healthy ready-to-eat food. inSeason experienced a 7% increase in sales last year due to the sale of their products in department stores.

The company’s main competitors in the market sector are Rock Field and Kakiyasu. Both of these companies have made names for themselves because of their croquettes and fried cakes made of premium-brand beef such as Kobe Beef and Matsuzaka Beef. As a result, they have been adversely affected by the recent Mad Cow disease (BSE) turmoil in Japan. inSeason has the vantage point in this environment, as it is easier for a new company to build within the system and offer safe food products to consumers.
Future Development: Over the past two fiscal years, the company has secured food material and developed the volume production system necessary to implement its business idea. This has resulted in sales growth to over 4 billion yen. In the future, the company plans to bring 14 deli shops into operation, which will in turn strengthen its brand. There are also plans to recoup investment through the development of franchise chain operations or joint shop business with major food companies, such as Kibun or FANCL, with which the company already has an agreement.

With the concept of "Safety, Beauty and Health" in mind, the company began to wholesale products under the inSeason brand. One of their largest client’s is the premium super market “Shell Garden”, which focuses on upper class residential areas.

The company is in discussion with a coffee shop and convenience store chain in the hopes of obtaining a supplier contract. In addition, inSeason is also in discussion to gain a supplier contract with a major company in the nursing care service industry that is a major potential market sector. The company expects to establish a business development project in limited geographic areas relatively soon.
History:
5/1997 Venture Fund Management Consulting (VFMC) was found as one of the predecessor companies.
11/1998 Opened "Deli & Café", the first organic delicatessen, in Kichijoji as an antenna store.
10/1999 Found inSeason, Inc.
5/2000 Opened 5th deli store.
8/2000 Acquired 100% of VFMC by share exchange.
3/2001 Opened 10th deli store.
9/2001 Closed "Deli & Café" in Senzoku.
Management Profile: Terumi Takimiya – Representative Director
Date of birth: June 22, 1955
1981 Joined Kyocera. Engaged in logistics and production management and led a production innovation project.
189 Joined Nomura Research Institute where he engaged in consulting projects for convenience stores, supermarket stores, food companies, apparel manufacturer, etc.
1997 Found Venture Fund Management Consulting (VFMC).