Regular meeting on November 27th: Now is the time to deliver Japanese culture in a new form!

Reporter: Yuichi Kondo, CEO, Sakura Liquor Store Co., Ltd.

Sakura Liquor Store took on the challenge of selling sake under legal and regulated conditions from scratch. The road to achieving growth was not smooth. They visited sake breweries one by one to procure sake, only to be flatly rejected, with customers saying they were doing their best just to sell to their current wholesaler. They also visited restaurants to sell sake, only to be rejected everywhere, with customers saying they couldn't change their existing relationships. Despite these circumstances, they persevered, continuing to visit one restaurant after another and increasing their client base.

The turning point came when overseas exports began to take off thanks to a partnership with a major liquor retailer in Hong Kong. Domestic sales also saw the expansion of online sales, as the company sought to add high value to its products by providing detailed sake data sheets.

However, a fire at their sake warehouse in November 2022 put the company in a difficult position. However, crowdfunding generated more support than expected, turning the crisis into an opportunity and getting the company back on track for growth.

Exports have now expanded to over 20 countries overseas, and the founder's wish to let people around the world know the value of sake is coming true.