Japan Restaurant Sales Rise 20.4% In May

The Japan Food Service Association (JFSA) said that restaurant revenues grew 20.4 percent over the same month last year, Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

Photo Insert: The night-restaurant district in Dotonbori

Sales were 4.6 percent lower than in May 2019, when the COVID-19 epidemic began, indicating a recovery. The number of newly sick patients has remained low, and there were no travel restrictions for the Golden Week holidays this year.

According to JFSA statistics, restaurant sales were 8.1 percent lower in April compared to the same month in pre-pandemic 2019. While down, it represents a significant rebound for the business, given that sales in April 2020 fell 39.6 percent compared to April 2019.

Among the sorts of businesses, family restaurants and Japanese-style izakaya bar chains continue to struggle, but fast-food takeout sales are doing well.

“Families are generating the demand for eating out, especially during school vacations and on weekends and holidays,” the association explained.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic