On Thursday, July 16th, a special lecture was held as part of the third-year course "Practical Application of Global Food Business Program (GFBP)," with Mr. Tetsuya Ikehata from the Management Planning Division of AEON Kyushu Co., Ltd. as the lecturer.
This special lecture was held with the aim of allowing students to deepen their understanding of the food business and cultivate the perspectives and problem-solving skills required in the real world by learning directly from practitioners who are active on the front lines of the food and distribution industries.
Mr. Ikehata began by introducing the history and business activities of his company, which operates a diverse range of businesses including supermarkets, shopping centers, and discount stores throughout Kyushu. He then used various data to explain trends in industry restructuring in the retail sector, changes in consumer needs, and trends in popular products. He also explained how companies analyze information in response to a diversifying external environment and changing consumer needs, and how this information is reflected in their management and product strategies, incorporating SWOT analysis (an analytical method for organizing a company's strengths and weaknesses, as well as market opportunities and threats) and PEST analysis (a method for analyzing the external environment from political, economic, social, and technological perspectives).
Through the lectures, students deepened their understanding of the latest trends in the retail industry and the importance of market analysis, as well as learning the perspectives and ways of thinking required in the food business. It seems to have been a valuable opportunity for them to consider their future careers.
[Global Food Business Program]
