GREAT Week to help UK firms enter Japan market
Building on the success of last year, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) will host GREAT Week Japan on 27–31 October. Designed to strengthen the British brand, this UK government promotion of the country aims to create new business opportunities for UK firms.
Key to the initiative is a programme of trade missions for UK firms in the retail, luxury, creative, and food and drink industries, as well as consumer-facing activities.
Delegates will have the opportunity to meet major buyers, potential partners, specialist media and market experts through showcase events at the British Embassy Tokyo, where over 500 buyers interested in generating new business deals or relationships will attend.
These events will give British firms the chance to promote their products and show their expertise in their respective sectors.
Organisers UKTI hope to encourage mutually beneficial partnerships between businesses in both countries.
Alongside this business-to-business focus, GREAT week also provides a platform for consumer-facing activities such as the Shopping is GREAT Britain campaign in the major shopping spots in Tokyo.
A number of fashion and consumer goods brands from the UK are involved, delivering a series of talks in the GREAT Week hub in the Marunouchi Building, Tokyo, every evening of the week.
This project also links into UKTI’s ongoing “Food is GREAT: A taste of Britain” campaign. A number of UK food and drink firms with a presence in Japan including BrewDog plc, Malins, Daylesford, Enoteca Co., Ltd., Fortnum & Mason plc, and HUB will be participating in the campaign.
World famous Scottish brewery BrewDog plc, adored by beer lovers across the globe, set up shop in its first Japan location in Roppongi in March, since when it has gone from strength to strength.
Malins, the new kid on the block, opened its fish and chip shop in Roppongi in July. It is named after Joseph Malin, who is said to have opened Britain’s first such eatery in London in 1860.
Daylesford, which has a 30-year history of farming organically in Gloucestershire, has a shop in Aoyama where a café, bakery and grocery section showcase its trademark products.
Wine connoisseurs Enoteca will be sharing their expertise, while iconic British department store Fortnum & Mason will showcase their most sought-after goods. Popular British-style pub chain HUB will also be on hand for the festivities.
But work on the Food is GREAT campaign is not only focused on the capital. This month, UKTI market specialists have been busy promoting the best of British food and drink across the country.
On 6–12 October, the Hilton Osaka held a British Food Festival. Organised jointly by Hilton Hotels & Resorts and the British Consulate-General Osaka, the hotel’s three restaurants offered British dishes, ranging from dinner courses to lunch buffets and afternoon tea. An executive head chef from the Waldorf Hilton, London was specially invited to attend the event.
Another event was a British Fair at Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores, Inc.’s flagship shop in Umeda, Osaka on 8–14 October. Now in its 47th year, the event this year marks the largest number of British people participating since it began. About 40 people from nearly 30 British businesses showcased their goods and services.
There was a strong focus on food and drink, and attendees were able to try offerings from a pie shop and a fish and chip shop. In addition, Scottish shortbread from Walkers Shortbread Ltd. was baked on site by one of the sons of the Walker family, and a tearoom and a sandwich shop offered the best of British culinary delights.
