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How an MBA internship led Mitsubishi to e-commerce platform Yami—and into the U.S. snacks market
Fortune· 2026-03-20 07:00
Core Insights - Mitsubishi Shokuhin, Japan's largest food wholesaler, is forming a strategic partnership with Yami to enhance access to U.S. consumers for its Japanese food and beverage brands [3][5] - The partnership aims to leverage Yami's e-commerce platform, which caters to Asian Americans and the broader Asian diaspora, allowing Mitsubishi Shokuhin to bypass traditional retail challenges [4][5] Company Overview - Mitsubishi Shokuhin generated approximately 2.1 trillion yen ($14 billion) in revenue in its last fiscal year and supplies a wide range of food products to around 3,000 retailers in Japan [3][6] - The company was fully privatized by Mitsubishi Corporation in a tender offer worth 137.6 billion yen (about $950 million) to accelerate overseas expansion [7] Market Context - Japan experienced a tourism boom, welcoming a record 42.7 million foreign visitors in 2025, who spent 9.5 trillion yen (about $60 billion), creating demand for Japanese products abroad [8] - Japan's exports of agricultural and food products reached a record 1.7 trillion yen in 2025, with significant increases in beef, rice, and green tea exports [8] E-commerce Landscape - Yami, founded by Alex Zhou, has grown to nearly $100 million in revenue within three years without outside funding and has raised institutional capital, including a $50 million Series B round [10][11] - The platform serves close to four million registered customers and has seen a growing interest from non-Asian shoppers in Asian products [11][13] Strategic Implications - The partnership with Yami allows Mitsubishi Shokuhin to directly reach millions of consumers online, enhancing its market presence in the U.S. [5] - Platforms like Yami can transform one-time souvenir purchases into ongoing demand for Japanese products, aligning with Mitsubishi Shokuhin's goals [9]
Uber Inks Deal With T&T Supermarket for Grocery Delivery In Canada
ZACKS· 2026-03-02 17:31
Core Insights - Uber Technologies has launched a partnership with T&T Supermarket, Canada's largest Asian supermarket chain, to enhance its grocery delivery offerings through Uber Eats [1][9] - This partnership allows customers across Canada to order a wide range of products, including fresh produce, seafood, ready-to-eat meals, and specialty Asian items [2][9] - The collaboration is part of Uber's broader strategy to expand its grocery delivery services, following previous partnerships with Best Buy and Dollar Tree [4][6][9] Group 1: Partnership Details - The T&T Supermarket partnership enables nationwide delivery services, with operations starting in Quebec soon [2] - Customers can access a variety of products, including popular Korean and Japanese beauty products, through the Uber Eats platform [2][3] - Klaas Knieriem, head of retail for Uber Eats in Canada, expressed satisfaction with the partnership, emphasizing the convenience it brings to customers [3] Group 2: Expansion Strategy - Uber's collaboration with T&T Supermarket highlights its ongoing efforts to diversify grocery delivery options [4][9] - Previous partnerships, such as with Best Buy, have expanded Uber Eats' offerings to include consumer electronics, enhancing accessibility for customers [5][6] - The deal with Dollar Tree added nearly 9,000 stores to the Uber Eats platform, further strengthening its retail delivery capabilities [6] Group 3: Market Performance - Uber's shares have experienced a decline in double digits over the past six months, underperforming the Zacks Internet-Services industry [7]