Start from 2020 February, the new coronavirus pandemic affect the whole world seriously. People were getting sick, hard to breathe which cause people to die and infect other people through close interaction. The Japanese government also took the pandemic situation seriously and made lots of policies to prevent the infection. In April, the government even announced people should not go out without purpose and forced lots of industries to rest during this hard time. Unfortunately, the situation was getting worse and the restriction duration had been postponed to the end of May. 

Because of this condition, lots of restaurants and hotels were facing to limit business hours and the number of customers to accept. In April, the total number of restaurant sales was 60.4% compared to the previous year. It was the largest decrease number in the past decade. Among them, night clubs were 4.1%, Isakaya were 9.7%, diner restaurant were 16%, tea & cafe shop were 27.6%. 

Sales # of stores # of customers Unit price
# of companies # of stores Rate Rate Rate Rate
All
191 37982 60.4% 98.9% 59.9% 100.8%
Fast food
restaurant
Total 50 21821 84.4% 98.8% 73.4% 115.0%
Western style 15 6381 102.8% 99.5% 78.3% 131.3%
Japanese style 17 5232 84.2% 101.0% 84.5% 99.7%
Noodles 18 3304 45.4% 99.8% 43.3% 105.0%
Sushi 14 4339 78.4% 94.4% 77.7% 100.9%
Others 7 2565 68.7% 99.0% 60.5% 113.6%

Family

Restaurants

Total 54 10376 40.9% 99.7% 40.7% 100.6%
Western style 22 5334 40.8% 98.9% 39.0% 104.6%
Japanese style 27 2474 35.1% 98.1% 37.1% 94.6%
Chinese style 12 1136 62.5% 103.7% 56.5% 110.6%
Yakiniku 17 1432 30.9% 102.7% 32.3% 95.6%
Pubs/

Isakaya

Total 32 2476 8.6% 95.7% 10.5% 82.2%
Pubs/ Night clubs 9 347 4.1% 99.1% 4.1% 100.6%
Isakaya 26 2129 9.7% 95.2% 12.6% 76.8%
Dinner Restaurants
26 1114 16.0% 98.8% 17.1% 93.7%
Cafe Shops
14 2004 27.6% 98.7% 33.0% 83.6%
Others
15 191 49.8% 109.1% 41.8% 119.1%

 

Resource: JFnet

・Fast food restaurants

Most of fast-food restaurants such as Mcdonald’s, KFC, Mos Burger, were reducing the open hour and avoid customers to enjoy the meal in the store. Take-out-only is the best way to prevent cluster infection, some stores were also promoting home delivery service to enhance sales performance. The total number of sales of fast-food restaurants were 84.4% in April. 

In particular, the sales growth of western-style fast-food restaurants was 102.8% which was significantly higher than the local restaurant like ramen shops, because the completed Drive-through service that shows out a unique business model than other companies. 

・Family restaurants

Family restaurants were like fast-food restaurants that cut the opening hour and turn to do take out service. Family restaurants are famous for their friendly environment that people can enjoy the meal together. However, during this pandemic, the sales rate is only 40.9% compared to the previous year. 

・Pubs/ night clubs/ Isakaya

Pubs and night clubs were changing open time until 8 pm. The alcohol service was only available until 7 pm. However, most of them closed the service temporarily. The pubs’ sales rate were only 4.1% and Isakaya 9.7%. 

・Diner restaurants and cafe shops

Diner restaurants were only 16% and cafe shops were 27.6% compared to the previous year.