The company behind 7-Eleven is placing a significant wager on Australia, positioning the country as a testing ground for a convenience-store model that transformed the brand into a retail powerhouse in Japan. In 2024, Seven & I Holdings acquired the Australian operator of its branded outlets for 1.7 billion Australian dollars (about $1.2 billion). The… Continue reading 7-Eleven’s Parent Company Bets on Australia as a Launchpad for Global Growth
Category: Consumer Goods
Top 5 Mistakes Businesses Make After Expanding Beyond 50 Locations
Reaching 50 locations is a major milestone. It signals product-market fit, operational strength and brand traction. But it’s also a dangerous inflection point. What works for 5 or 20 stores often breaks at 50+. Complexity increases, communication stretches and leadership gaps become more visible. Many brands that scale quickly stall — or even decline —… Continue reading Top 5 Mistakes Businesses Make After Expanding Beyond 50 Locations
Japanese Wine Aged in Local Barrels used for brewing sake and whiskey
Tucked away among the outer Chichibu mountains, the quiet town of Ogawa in Saitama Prefecture is far removed from the rolling vineyards usually associated with winemaking. Surrounded by rice fields and sustained by clean mountain water, the area is better known for agriculture than wine. Yet it is precisely these qualities that attracted winemaker Yuzo… Continue reading Japanese Wine Aged in Local Barrels used for brewing sake and whiskey
Top 5 Plant-Based Proteins Replacing Meat in 2026
The global shift toward plant-based eating is accelerating, driven by concerns over health, sustainability, and food security. By 2026, plant-based proteins are no longer niche alternatives — they are becoming mainstream options on restaurant menus, grocery shelves, and home kitchens. Advances in food science and changing consumer preferences are helping these proteins move closer to… Continue reading Top 5 Plant-Based Proteins Replacing Meat in 2026
China Is Losing More Than Just Two Ports in Panama
Panama’s decision to cancel Chinese-linked port contracts at both ends of the Panama Canal marks more than a routine legal ruling — it reflects a broader geopolitical shift in the region. By voiding the concessions held by a Hong Kong–based firm, Panama has effectively reduced China’s footprint at one of the world’s most critical trade… Continue reading China Is Losing More Than Just Two Ports in Panama
Made in Korea
Products and content labeled “Made in Korea” are enjoying a surge in global demand, particularly in entertainment and beauty. Spending on Korean cultural products is projected to nearly double to $143 billion by 2030, driven by worldwide audiences and the amplifying power of social media platforms like TikTok. The key question now is whether this… Continue reading Made in Korea
Fewer Food and Drink Price Increases Expected in Japan This February
Japan is likely to see a noticeable slowdown in food and beverage price increases in February, signaling potential easing in inflationary pressures, according to new survey results released Friday by private research firm Teikoku Databank. The study shows that 195 major food and drink manufacturers plan to raise prices on 674 products next month. This… Continue reading Fewer Food and Drink Price Increases Expected in Japan This February
Are AI Misfires and Fragmented Suppliers Just a Temporary Storm in Starbucks’ Coffee Cup?
NEW YORK — For years, Starbucks has blamed inconsistent sales in the United States on a familiar culprit: stores that can’t reliably keep basics on hand. Missing milk deliveries, unavailable pastries, or even a lack of cup lids have repeatedly disrupted the customer experience across the company’s thousands of U.S. locations. The issue has persisted… Continue reading Are AI Misfires and Fragmented Suppliers Just a Temporary Storm in Starbucks’ Coffee Cup?
Brands Reassess Ties After Celebrity Chef Admits to Multiple DUI Offenses
Several consumer brands are facing renewed scrutiny following revelations by celebrity chef Im Seong-keun, a contestant from Season 2 of Netflix’s cooking competition “Culinary Class Wars,” that he has been convicted of driving under the influence on three separate occasions over the past ten years. Im, who rose to popularity for his sharp wit, confident… Continue reading Brands Reassess Ties After Celebrity Chef Admits to Multiple DUI Offenses
Bacha Coffee Brings Old-World Elegance to Tokyo’s Ginza
Stepping into a Bacha Coffee café feels less like entering a coffee shop and more like being transported into a carefully curated world of luxury. Polished surfaces gleam, ornate details catch the light, and every element seems designed to elevate the simple act of drinking coffee into a refined ritual. The Singapore-based brand has built… Continue reading Bacha Coffee Brings Old-World Elegance to Tokyo’s Ginza