CGC Japan

What CGC Japan does

CGC Japan (株式会社シジシージャパン) is the privately held national headquarters of the CGC Group, a cooperative chain of 203 independent regional supermarket companies operating 4,549 retail stores across Japan. Founded in 1973 as a spin-off from the trade department of Santoku (三徳) supermarket in Tokyo, the company was established to coordinate international product procurement and has evolved into the central operating entity for Japan's largest supermarket cooperative. CGC Japan develops and distributes approximately 1,900 private-brand product SKUs across food, household goods, and seasonal categories, organized into multiple sub-brands targeting different price tiers: CGC PRIME for premium regional Japanese products, 自然のあしあと (Nature's Footprint) for sustainable seafood, ショッパーズプライス (Shoppers Price) for value, and 断然お得 for budget-conscious consumers. The company sources from 46+ countries through five overseas offices in Seattle, Shanghai, Bangkok, Milan, and Mumbai.

The company's underlying technology platform includes the CoGCa (コジカ) proprietary electronic money system operated by its subsidiary SBS Systems (エス・ビー・システムズ), which has reached 12.36 million members and ¥569.9 billion in annual transactions across 1,532 member stores. CGC Japan also coordinates a shared core IT system (みんなのCGCシステム) featuring AI-powered auto-ordering and digital shelf labels to reduce labor costs and out-of-stock rates. The company operates or coordinates a nationwide logistics network comprising 9 wide-area distribution centers, 15 JD/地区 centers, and 2 TC transit warehouses, with a JR Freight rail modal shift initiative achieving approximately 70% CO2 emissions reduction. The company holds ISO 14001 certification (since 2010, transitioned to 2015 version in 2017) for its environmental management system.

CGC Japan's business model operates on cooperative economics: it develops private-brand products in collaboration with member company buyers and manufacturers, then distributes these products through member supermarkets that retain independent retail identities. Revenue streams include margins on ~1,900 PB SKUs, coordination fees from national-brand central purchasing through the 全国協力会 cooperative, logistics service fees, and interchange/transaction fees from CoGCa electronic money. The CGC GROUP CARD (JACCS co-branded credit card) generated ¥5,699 billion in annual transaction volume with 12.36 million cardholders as of April 2026. Headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, CGC Japan reported FY2026 (ending February 2026) headquarters handling volume of ¥1,087 billion, with the broader CGC Group generating ¥5,540 billion in combined annual sales. The company employs 354 staff at headquarters and is led by President 松本 倞 (Matsumoto Hiromu), with CGC Group Representative 堀内淳弘 (Horiiui Junhiro) providing overarching leadership.

Name

CGC Japan

Legal name

株式会社シジシージャパン

Website

https://cgcjapan.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CGC Japan is the national headquarters of the CGC Group, a cooperative chain of 203 independent regional supermarket companies operating 4,549 stores across Japan. It develops approximately 1,900 private-brand product SKUs, coordinates shared logistics and IT infrastructure, and operates the CoGCa electronic money payment system for member retailers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cooperative Retail Distribution / Grocery Wholesale & Private Brand Development

NAICS

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers (424480), Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (425)

SIC

Wholesale-Groceries, General Line (5141)

akta.pro primary industry

Online B2B Grocery Supply for Small Businesses (Wholesale-to-Consumer/Prosumer) (CRAHAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retailer-Vendor Collaboration, Joint Business Planning (JBP) & Trade Terms Services (CRAOAOAJ), Wholesale-to-Business Online Ordering (B2B Food E-Commerce) (AFAIAMAD), B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms (BPAMAGAD)

Keywords

• Cooperative grocery chain
• Private brand products
• Supermarket distribution
• Retail logistics services
• Centralized procurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Private Brand Product Sales: CGC Japan develops and distributes approximately 1,900 private brand (PB) product SKUs across food, daily goods, and seasonal categories through 203 member supermarket companies. Revenue is generated through product margins and volume-based procurement from manufacturers.
2. National Brand (NB) Centralized Purchasing: Scale procurement of national brand (NB) consumer goods through the '全国協力会' cooperative, achieving volume discounts comparable to large chain stores. Revenue derives from margin share and coordination fees from member companies.
3. Logistics and Distribution Services: Operation of nationwide logistics network (9 wide-area centers, 15 JD/地区 centers, 2 TC facilities) for member companies, generating coordination and logistics service fees.
4. CoGCa Electronic Money Transaction Fees: CoGCa card generates interchange and transaction fees. The system offers lower fees than other cashless payment methods, incentivizing member adoption.
5. CGC GROUP CARD (JACCS Co-branded Credit Card): JACCS-issued co-branded credit card (CGC GROUP CARD) distributed through member stores, generating card issuance fees and transaction commissions. Annual fee waived with usage; provides 3% discount on the 15th of each month at participating stores.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CGC Japan operates as the national headquarters and central procurement/distribution arm of the CGC Group, a cooperative chain of 203 independent regional supermarket companies operating 4,549 stores across Japan. Its core offering is the development and wholesale distribution of approximately 1,900 private brand (PB) product SKUs spanning groceries, fresh produce, processed foods, beverages, and household goods, complemented by centralized national-brand procurement, shared logistics infrastructure (9 wide-area centers, 15 JD centers, 2 TC warehouses), shared IT systems (CoGCa electronic money, AI auto-ordering, digital shelf labels), cooperative marketing programs (annual CGC Fair, CGC GROUP CARD), and international product sourcing through 5 overseas offices.

Product overview

CGC Japan operates a cooperative chain of approximately 203 independent supermarket companies with 4,549 stores across Japan, generating total annual sales of 5.54 trillion yen. The core offering is the CGC Private Brand portfolio of approximately 1,890 SKUs, supported by multiple sub-brands targeting different market segments: CGC PRIME for premium regional products, 自然のあしあと。 for sustainable seafood, and ショッパーズプライス/断然お得 for price-conscious consumers. The business model integrates private label product development with financial services (CGC GROUP CARD and CoGCa electronic money), regional agricultural sourcing, and international procurement through overseas offices. CGC Group also operates collaborative logistics networks, shared IT systems through SBS Systems, and community engagement programs including the National Children's Art Contest and environmental initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CGC PRIME: Premium private-brand line featuring Japanese agricultural and seafood products sourced from select regions, emphasizing origin, ingredients, and traditional manufacturing methods. Products include Kumamoto sweet summer oranges, Yamagata La France pears, Yamagata Ohkubo white peaches, Iseishi-ma hijiki seaweed, Saga Ariake first-harvest roasted nori, and Okinawa sugarcane sugar.
• CGC ORGANIC
• V-pack
• くらしのベスト (Kurashi no Best)
• 昔の大地 (Yama no Daichi)
• 自然のあしあと。 (Shizen no Ashiato)
• ショッパーズプライス (Shoppers Price)
• 断然お得 (Dantan Ōku)
• PRINCE de BAO
• BOBAL de SANJUAN
• インペリアルガード (Imperial Guard)
• CGC 意大利ンドレッシング

Products and services

• CGC Private Brand Product Portfolio Approximately 1,890 private brand SKUs spanning groceries, fresh produce, processed foods, beverages, and household goods, developed collaboratively with member supermarket companies and manufacturers and sold exclusively through CGC Group member stores across Japan.
• CGC PRIME

Quantifiable outcome

• CGC Group total annual sales of 5兆5,409億円 across 203 companies and 4,549 stores
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 日本貨物鉄道株式会社 (JR Freight)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2026JR Freight collaborates with CGC through the 'モーダルシフト推進協議会' (established 2016) to shift agricultural product transport from trucks to rail containers. This reduced CO₂ emissions by ~70% (815 tons in 2025) and truck journeys significantly. CGC Japan, Ralz, Fresta, Axial Label, Mimimart, and Zenkoku Tsūun all participate in this initiative.
• 在日アメリカ大使館・在日中国大使館・在日タイ大使館・在京ミラノ工商会議所・在日インド大使館minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CGC maintains relationships with embassies and trade offices in its 5 overseas market countries to facilitate international product sourcing and development trips.
• キリンビバレッジminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Co-sponsors regional sports events for children (e.g., soccer academies in 4 regions: Hokkaido/Chubu/Chugoku/Kansai) with CGC member companies.
• 全国食の甲子園協会 (ご当地！絶品うまいもん甲子園)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019CGC co-sponsors the 'ご当地！絶品うまいもん甲子園' national high school cooking contest. Winning recipes are sometimes commercialized by member companies, and member stores promote the contest through websites and flyers. The 14th edition (2025) had 85 schools and 264 teams participate.
• 株式会社ジャックス (JACCS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014JACCS issues the CGC GROUP CARD (co-branded credit card) in partnership with all member companies. The card provides 3% discount on the 15th at member stores, earns points redeemable for CGC gift certificates, and generated 5,699億円 in annual transaction volume (April 2026) with 1,236万 card members across 101 companies and 1,532 stores.
• エス・ビー・システムズ株式会社 (SBS)coreTechnology or IntegrationSBS operates CoGCa electronic money, the shared core IT system (みんなのCGCシステム), and auto-ordering tools for member companies. The company name stands for Supermarket Backup Systems. It develops and maintains shared-use systems that reduce individual member IT costs while enabling coordinated digital transformation.
• 毎日新聞社・毎日小学生新聞・日本児童画振興会coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCGC co-sponsors the annual 全国児童画コンクール (National Children's Art Competition) with Mainichi Shimbun and Japan Children's Art Promotion Association. The competition, dating to 1982, generates 460,000+ annual entries. Entry submissions at member stores create community engagement and brand visibility. The Ministry of Education endorses the event.
• 全国油脂事業協同組合連合会minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivers keynote speeches at the annual CGC Group Environment CSR Presentation (環境CSR委員会), sharing industry knowledge on environmental management.
• 中外菓子株式会社 (食品トレー容器メーカー)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFukushima Prefecture manufacturer visited during the May 2026 Environment CSR mobile committee meeting to learn about food tray and PET bottle recycling.
• エスビー食品株式会社minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsors the 'ちびっ子健康マラソン' children's sports event held across multiple CGC regions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aeon: Japan's largest supermarket and retail group with extensive private brand portfolio (TopValu). Directly comparable as a PB-driven, multi-format grocery retail operator serving mass-market Japanese consumers through both owned stores and franchise/affiliated networks.
• Mitsubishi Shokuhin: Major Japanese food wholesaler distributing groceries, frozen foods, and processed products to retail customers including supermarkets. Comparable as a B2B food distribution intermediary serving Japan's supermarket channel.
• Kato Sangyo: Japanese food wholesaler specializing in grocery, frozen, and chilled product distribution to supermarkets, convenience stores, and food service operators. Comparable to CGC Japan's wholesale distribution role serving retail customers.
• Nippon Access (Nichirei Logistics): Leading Japanese food wholesaler and logistics provider serving retail and food service customers. Comparable as a B2B food distribution and logistics specialist with national coverage in Japan.
• Paltac: Japan's largest consumer goods wholesaler (cosmetics, drugs, household goods) with growing food distribution. Comparable as a B2B wholesale distribution specialist serving retail customers with centralized logistics.
• Co-op Kobe (Kobe Co-operative Society): Major Japanese consumer cooperative supermarket chain operating under a cooperative model similar to CGC. Directly comparable as a cooperative retail organization serving member households through supermarket stores.

Broad incumbents

• Seven & i Holdings: Parent of Ito-Yokado supermarkets and 7-Eleven convenience stores. Comparable as a broad Japanese retail incumbent with overlapping grocery, private brand (Seven Premium), and payment (7Pay, nanaco) capabilities across multiple formats.

Regional players

• Yaoko: Regional supermarket chain operating primarily in Saitama, Kanto, and surrounding prefectures. Comparable as a regional Japanese supermarket operator competing in the same geographic and format segment as CGC member companies.
• Heiwado: Regional supermarket chain operating in Kansai, Chubu, and Hokuriku regions with private brand development. Comparable as a regional supermarket operator with PB strategy serving suburban and rural Japanese consumers.
• Life Corporation: Supermarket chain operating primarily in Kansai and Tokyo metro areas with strong PB (Bio-Ichinichi) development. Comparable as a regional supermarket competitor with focus on private brand and fresh product differentiation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/cgcjapan
• Facebookfacebook.com/cgcjapan

Compliance16 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CGC Japan