Bakery Market in Japan - Forecast, and Market Analysis 2015-2019

Market landscape of bakery products in Japan

The bakery market in Japan is expected to see a slow but steady growth, reaching a market size of $28 billion until 2019. Changing lifestyles and an increase in the number of product offerings are the key factors driving the bakery market in Japan.

Valued at over 2.50 tons in terms of volumes in 2014, the market research indicates a steady rise in the consumption of baked goods, biscuits, and cereals during the forecast period. Growing awareness about health benefits has made consumers in Japan shift to gluten-free organic products. Bread and cakes made from whole grains are also emerging as a popular choice for health-conscious Japanese consumers. To fulfil changing consumer needs, vendors are undertaking radical diversification of product categories.

Key market trends of the bakery market in Japan

The demand for premium quality goods in the Japanese market is on the rise. Yamazaki, a leading vendor in Japan, launched a new brand of premium quality pastries called Oishi Kashipan, which has become hugely successful in the market. Other vendors too are likely to introduce similar products during the forecast period.

Japan is witnessing a shift from traditional breakfast to more easy, ready to eat, and nutritious bakery variants. Granola, a healthy diet option with proper nutrients and vitamins is emerging as a popular choice. Before the introduction of granola, cereals did not have a widespread demand in Japan. Calorie control measures by bakery manufacturers in Japan will continue to gain momentum in this market.

Market segmentation of the bakery market in Japan by product type

• Biscuits
• Cereals
• Baked goods

The baked food category accounts for a majority share of the market. This segment is further classified into breads, cakes and pastries. The rising popularity of premium bakery products among the elderly has resulted in the growth of the segment. The biscuits segment was valued at a little over $ 4 billion in terms of revenue in 2014, but it is expected to witness a slow growth rate during the forecast period. Ezaki Glico emerged as leading player of the biscuit segment in 2014. The company’s most popular biscuit brands in Japan include Pocky, Collon, and Bisco.

Among the overall bakery segment, the cereals market is expected to have the highest growth compared to the other two segments. This market is further sub segmented into children’s breakfast, and family breakfast and hot cereals. The growth of the market is attributed to the high adoption of granola in the Japanese society.

Vendor landscape for the bakery market in Japan                       

The bakery market in Japan includes local and international players. The competition among vendors is based on the quality of the products, the brand value, pricing, shelf life, etc. The competition in the bakery market is likely to build up due to the customization and improvements in technology as well as the end product.

The five leading vendors of the bakery market in Japan include: -

• Yamazaki
• Shikishima
• Fuji Baking
• Bourbon
• Ezaki Glico

The leading companies hold close to 35% of the market share of the bakery market in Japan. The major source of the distribution includes grocery retail that consists of supermarkets and convenience stores. The leading players in this market also figure as prominent players with large revenues in the global bakery market.

Other sections of the report include an analysis of the following

• Comparative analysis of retail sales in Japan with the other leading world economies
• Packaged food retail sales in Japan
• Key drivers, challenges, and trends and their impact on the bakery market in Japan
• Five forces analysis of the bakery market in Japan
• SWOT analysis of the leading companies in the bakery market in Japan

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