American Beef Roadshow Features U.S. Prime at 33 Costco Outlets in Japan
Retailer efforts to rejuvenate sales in Japan are creating promotional opportunities for U.S. beef.
Costco, for example, conducted “American Beef Roadshow” promotions at each of its 33 outlets nationwide to commemorate the grand opening of its newest store in Osaka.
While Costco regularly sells several cuts of Choice U.S. beef at its outlets, additional cuts of Prime U.S. beef were featured, including chuck and top blade. USMEF also provided tasting demonstrations at each of the 33 outlets.
“Retail chains are showing greater interest in promoting Prime U.S. beef as they work to recapture consumers’ attention,” says Tatsuru Kasatani, USMEF Japan marketing director. “With inflation rising, the promotions for Prime U.S. beef give us the opportunity to encourage Japanese consumers to compare highly marbled U.S. beef to the more expensive Wagyu beef that they know.”
Funding for the promotions was provided by the Beef Checkoff Program, several state beef councils and the corn checkoff programs of Iowa and Ohio.
Source: USMEF
