Japan food delivery firms at crossroads as inflation squeezes profits

Japan's food delivery industry is at a crossroads as intensifying competition and rising prices squeeze profits, forcing some operators to withdraw from the market.Driven by the convenience of being able to order meals via smartphone apps, the food delivery market expanded rapidly on the back of stay-at-home demand during the coronavirus pandemic.The domestic market was worth 860.3 billion yen ($5.3 million) in 2023, more than double its 2019 level before the pandemic, according to research firm Circana Japan Ltd. It then contracted 6.1 percent in 2024 before rebounding to 2.0 percent growt…READ FULL ARTICLE