Jeju Beer announced on the 19th that as part of its efforts to normalize management and actively target overseas markets, it has secured placement in AEON RETAIL Co., Ltd., a major Japanese distributor, for sales in the Japanese market.
In particular, this placement is part of the global market expansion strategy pursued since the management change in May, marking a full-scale entry into the Japanese market where there had been no sales until now. It is expected to be an important milestone for Jeju Beer’s full-scale advancement into Japan.
In fact, since exports to Japan began this year, the proportion of Japan within overseas sales has gradually increased, indicating that it will significantly contribute to the expansion of overseas sales in the future.
Through placement in AEON RETAIL, Jeju Beer plans to secure a distribution network across Japan, simultaneously increasing brand awareness and market share.
The AEON Group is one of Japan’s largest distribution companies, with sales last year reaching 8.6042 trillion yen (approximately 98.48 trillion KRW), boasting a scale more than 11 times that of Korea’s leading distribution company, Lotte Group. Its supermarket division sales also recorded about 6.2948 trillion yen.
AEON owns various types of stores nationwide in Japan, including supermarkets, discount stores, shopping malls, and convenience stores, maintaining a very large distribution network. Through this placement, Jeju Beer has established a foothold to reach consumers throughout Japan and is formulating mid- to long-term plans to increase its market share in the Japanese beer market.
As part of this, Jeju Beer is pursuing a localization strategy tailored to the tastes and quality preferences of Japanese consumers. In particular, it has produced a ‘dedicated can’ for exports to Japan to enhance consumer accessibility, and from next year, it plans to sell not only Jeju Wit Ale but also ‘Jeju Nubo,’ a premium non-alcoholic beer.
A Jeju Beer official stated, “After participating in Osaka Yakiniku Exhibition, a representative Japanese food service exhibition, in July, as well as various food and beverage fairs, we have succeeded in entering AEON RETAIL, Japan’s largest distributor, through our efforts to enter the Japanese market and expand our sales network. From the end of November, you will be able to find Jeju Wit Ale at AEON RETAIL.”
He added, “The Japanese beer market is dominated by four companies?Asahi, Kirin, Suntory, and Sapporo?which hold 99% of the market share. However, as there is no resistance to Korean culture and food through the Korean Wave, we will make great efforts to meet the diverse needs of Japanese consumers going forward.”
In addition to entering the Japanese market, Jeju Beer is continuously achieving results in various overseas markets including the United States and Russia. As the preference for craft beer, which had declined due to competition from wine and whiskey, shows signs of recovery, Jeju Beer plans to actively work to establish itself as a premium brand in overseas markets based on its position in the domestic craft beer market.
Meanwhile, since the management change, Jeju Beer has significantly reduced its deficit for two consecutive quarters and is actively promoting sales to turn profitable in the fourth quarter. This includes collaborations with popular broadcaster Shin Dong-yup’s YouTube channel ‘Jjanhan Hyung,’ which has about 1.6 million subscribers, Lotte Home Shopping’s mobile TV ‘L Live,’ and the part-time job platform ‘AlbaMon.’
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