Japan: Mitsui moves into Italian food with Eataly venture
Mitsui has announced, together with restaurant and hospitality chain Kichiri and the Italian food specialist Eataly, the formation of a retail, dining, and import business for Italian foods and ingredients in Japan and the Asia Pacific region. Known as Eataly Asia Pacific, the new company will hold exclusive rights to the Eataly trademark in Japan.
Eataly offers Italian food, such as ham, cheese, wine, pasta, olive oil, etc., as well as operating restaurants and cafes. In line with a recent change in direction towards franchise-style business development, Eataly has entered into a franchise agreement with Eataly Asia Pacific, assigning it as a franchisee.
By combining Kichiri's branding, know-how and restaurant operational capabilities with Eataly’s product lines and services, Mitsui said it aimed to make a substantial entry into the Italian food retail, dining, and wholesale business in both Japan and the Asia Pacific region, initially with business development in Japan.
Source: Mitsui