Top Message

In the 55 years since its founding, KOMEDA has considered relaxation for its customers, the quality of “KUTSUROGI” to be its most important attribute as a coffee shop. We believe that being the “an ideal space and service for KUTSUROGI,” a place where customers can feel at ease and unwind, in comfortable clothes as if they are in their own living room, is the essence of what KOMEDA should be, and the heart of its value.

Of course, we also want customers to enjoy our coffee and snack menu, and find our food and drink delicious, but a sense of relaxation is the top priority. Particularly in this era of uncertainty and unpredictability, we believe that spaces where people dealing with the anxiety and stress of everyday life can catch their breath and truly take a break are now an essential part of the infrastructure of a community.

This infrastructure of KOMEDA’s Coffee locations is supported by franchise owners who operate community-based stores that aim to “Link People, Communities, and Society through KUTSUROGI” as set forth in our medium-term business plan “VALUES 2025”. That is the reason why we are strengthening ties with franchise owners, and creating spaces for customers to relax in prosperous coexistence. That is our mission as a corporate group.

The relaxation that customers feel depends on the individual customer and the conditions at that time. Beyond just serving coffee, how can we create a space where people can truly relax? I believe that even in today’s digitally advanced society, this is a task that can only be done by people. So long as we are engaged in a business that can only be done by people, investment in human resource development is an area where we must naturally focus our efforts. This is a theme that I am strongly advancing.

To better serve our customers and create relaxation, every staff member must be able to intrinsically sense and consider the perspective of customers and the atmosphere, without relying on manuals. To help foster this ability, each year we hold “National Customer Service Contest,” in which around 8,000 staff members participated last year. I attended this event, and was so impressed by the wonderful ideas for customer service, filled with positive energy toward customers, that it brought a tear to my eye.

This business based on people will remain the same, even as digital technology continues to evolve further in the future. KOMEDA is implementing measures for digital transformation (DX), but rather than merely pursuing labor savings to lower costs, we are looking beyond greater efficiency to improved service, the “S” in QSC (quality, service, and cleanliness) that is the foundation of a restaurant. In other words, it is about improving KOMEDA-style hospitality. Everything needs to lead to greater relaxation for the customer, otherwise it is meaningless. This is because the true value of KOMEDA is in the day-to-day efforts of employees to hone their skills and learn KOMEDA-style hospitality, and create comfortable spaces that facilitate connections with customers.

When we think about mental relaxation, one of the inseparable aspects is sustainability. KOMEDA has identified 13 material issues (materiality) that will allow us to continue to provide relaxation for customers, and positioned them at the center of our management. These 13 issues are broadly divided into three themes. For the theme of “Quality and Customers,” we will respond to the diverse needs of customers throughout the community, establishing a foundation for safety and security. For the theme of “People and Job Satisfaction,” we will develop human resources and build a foundation to serve customers, while for the theme of “Environment,” we will respond to climate change issues and implement measures for resource recycling, in order to conserve the environment on which our entire business depends.

Together with the directors in charge of each of these themes, we are incorporating specific measures into an action plan, and making a concerted effort as a company to achieve them. These measures reflect our mission to make customers feel more truly relaxed, and we believe they are essential for KOMEDA to remain the “an ideal space and service for KUTSUROGI” for the next 100 years into the future.

Our medium-term business plan “VALUES 2025” has as its aim “Link People, Communities, and Society through KUTSUROGI.” Under this plan, in addition to earnings recovery in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, we are working to expand and enhance our existing business model, pursue new joint value creation, and maintain and expand financial value. We are moving forward with plans to open stores overseas, including most recently in Hong Kong in October 2022, and Bali in January 2023. In addition, to entice back regular customers lost during the pandemic, we have been developing seasonal menus items and other special products, while working with franchise owners to create stores with close ties to the community, as well as improve QSC. As a result, our business performance has steadily improved, and we made an upward revision to our earnings forecast.

However, when we think about the future, we recognize the need to lay the foundations for the businesses that will become the next growth engines and earnings pillars. We are developing new services, such as the Dai-An-Kichi-Jitsu brand established in April 2022, and accelerating the evolution and expansion of our sister brand Okagean, following the opening of the main store. As head of the company, I will personally take the lead in tenaciously pursuing initiatives for new service fields.

Going forward, KOMEDA will continue to work hand in hand with franchise owners and all stakeholders to jointly create with customers the “an ideal space and service for KUTSUROGI.” Just like the changes in relaxation of our customers, KOMEDA will continue to evolve. We appreciate your continued support.

タイトルとURLをコピーしました