Umami Paris

What Umami Paris does

Umami Paris is a French specialty Japanese grocery and tableware retailer founded in 2016, operating an omnichannel business anchored by a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront (umamiparis.com) offering over 1,000 artisanal Japanese SKUs across categories including soy sauces, miso, matcha, sake, yuzu products, soba noodles, furikake, kôji-based ferments, bio/superfoods, and Japanese tableware. The assortment is sourced directly from 20+ named Japanese artisan producers, with provenance documented through producer profiles. The company also operates two physical Matcha Café locations in Paris — a flagship at 22 rue Béranger 75003 and a takeaway-focused concept at 5 rue Pierre Demours 75017 — that serve as brand showcases and generate on-site F&B revenue, plus a catering (Traiteur) service for private and corporate events. A dedicated B2B Pro channel serves restaurants, chefs, caterers, and hotels.

The business model combines unit-priced online retail, in-store café point-of-sale, and B2B distribution, with no subscription component and revenue recognized per transaction. Pricing is in euros across a mix of €2–€15 grocery items and €40+ premium products; free shipping is offered in mainland France over €85. The company markets via an active blog on Japanese culinary culture, organic social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest), email newsletter, loyalty and referral programs, and in-person events (cooking classes, producer tastings). No proprietary technology is disclosed, and no AI/ML capabilities are referenced.

Name

Umami Paris

Legal name

Umami Paris

Website

https://umamiparis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Umami Paris is a French specialty Japanese grocery and tableware e-commerce retailer shipping over 1,000 artisanal SKUs to 35+ European countries, complemented by two physical Matcha Cafés in Paris and a B2B Pro channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Japanese Food and Tableware Retail

NAICS

Specialty Food Retailers (4452), Other Specialty Food Retailers (44529)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

International Specialty Ingredients & Import Markets (CRAHAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ethnic Grocery + Butcher/Bakery/Hot Bar (Integrated Service Counters) (CRAHAFAM)

Keywords

• Artisan japanese groceries
• Japanese tableware retail
• Matcha tea shop
• Online epicerie japonaise
• Japanese cafe catering

Headquarters

HQ city

Fontenay-sous-bois

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. E-commerce retail (B2C): Umami Paris operates an e-commerce storefront (umamiparis.com) selling over 1000 SKUs of artisanal Japanese grocery products (condiments, teas, sake, noodles, etc.) and Japanese tableware (dishware, knives, cooking utensils). Products are sold as one-time purchases at listed retail prices. Revenue is generated per transaction with no subscription component. The online store serves customers across France (free shipping over €85) and other European countries.
2. Matcha Café food & beverage retail: Umami Matcha Café operates two physical café locations in Paris (Béranger 75003 and To Go 75017) serving matcha beverages, specialty coffee, bentos, pastries, and Japanese-inspired food items. Revenue is generated through in-store point-of-sale transactions. Both locations also feature an épicerie corner selling Umami's imported Japanese artisan products, creating a crossover between the café and e-commerce brand.
3. Catering (Traiteur): Umami Matcha Café offers catering services for private and corporate events, providing Japanese-inspired cuisine prepared to order. Customers contact [email protected] or call 01 48 04 06 02 for custom quotes. This is a services-based revenue stream targeting event organizers in Paris.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Umami Paris curates and retails over 1,000 artisanal Japanese grocery references (sauces, miso, teas, saké, yuzu, soba, furikake, organic and fermented products) and Japanese tableware (dishware, knives, cookware, furoshiki) imported directly from a documented network of 20+ named Japanese artisan producers. Sales are fulfilled through the umamiparis.com e-commerce platform shipping to 35+ European countries, complemented by two Matcha Café locations in Paris that serve as retail showrooms, F&B venues, and catering points.

Product overview

Umami Paris operates a dual-channel business: an e-commerce platform (umamiparis.com) offering over 1,000 artisanal Japanese fine food and tableware products, and two physical Matcha Café locations in Paris (Béranger 3rd arrondissement and To Go in the 17th). The e-commerce platform is organized around product categories including sauces and seasonings (soy sauces, ponzu, mirin), fermented foods (miso, kôji-based products), Japanese teas (matcha, sencha, hojicha), sakés and alcohols, yuzu and citrus products, soba and noodles, furikake condiments, furoshiki wrapping cloths, organic and superfoods, and Japanese tableware (knives, cookware, dishes). The Matcha Cafés complement the offering with matcha-based beverages, specialty coffee, Japanese-inspired cuisine, and a corner grocery. The company also publishes a blog covering Japanese culinary culture and producer profiles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Umami Paris E-commerce Platform Direct-to-consumer online store offering 1000+ SKUs of artisanal Japanese fine food (sauces, miso, kōji products, matcha and Japanese teas, saké, umeshu, yuzu, soba, noodles, furikake, organic and fermented products) and Japanese tableware (dishware, knives, cookware, furoshiki, bento boxes, tea accessories), with shipping to 35+ European countries, free shipping over €85 in mainland France, and multilingual FR/EN support.
• Matcha Café To Go (Paris 17th arrondissement) Takeaway-focused café at 5 rue Pierre Demours, Paris 17th, near Charles de Gaulle – Étoile, serving bentos, matcha beverages, specialty coffee, and pastries. Features a reusable-container consigne system for bento boxes and stocks the Umami épicerie product range for in-store purchase.
• Umami Traiteur (Catering)

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ogawa SeimencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOgawa Seimen is a 140-year-old artisan soba maker founded in 1887 in Yamagata, Japan. Umami Paris imports and retails their premium soba noodles (including Sarrasin 3x150g, currently €11.30) and promotes them through dedicated blog articles. The partnership is co-promotional, with both parties benefiting from the cross-cultural visibility.
• Kagura no SatocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKagura no Sato is a yuzu producer founded in 1978 in Shiromi village, Miyazaki prefecture, specializing in organically certified yuzu products (JAS certified since 2018). Umami Paris imports their yuzu juice (180ml), shichimi au yuzu, and ponzu. The producer profile is featured on the Umami blog, highlighting the terroir-driven quality.
• Kamikokoro ShuzocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKamikokoro is a sake brewery founded in 1913 in Asakuchi, Okayama prefecture, using the rare Bichû brewing method. Umami Paris imports their Junmai Kissui, Junmai Nigori, and Shuwa Shuwa sparkling sake. The producer has been featured in detailed blog articles on the Umami blog.
• NarayacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaraya is a 250-year-old (officially founded 1975, family lineage from Edo period) producer in Minami-Aizu, Fukushima prefecture, specializing in soba noodles, sobacha (buckwheat tea), and buckwheat flour. Umami Paris imports their soba, sobacha, and Dattan Sobacha products, and features the producer in detailed blog content about Japanese culinary culture.
• Wakatsuru ShuzocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWakatsuru Shuzo is a brewery and distillery founded in 1862 in Toyama prefecture, known for liqueurs including Yuzushu and aged Umeshu (12 years in wooden barrels). Umami Paris features them as a summer edition highlight and imports their liqueur products. Featured on the blog with a producer profile article.
• Horaiya HontencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoraiya Honten is a kôji master based in Koriyama, cultivating the ferment since 1906. Umami Paris imports their koji-based products: creamy miso, koji soy sauce, kojiya miso, and amazake (including yuzu, black sesame, and matcha flavored varieties). The producer is featured in the blog article about kôji (fermented rice mold) as a foundational ingredient in Japanese cuisine.
• Nihon KaisuicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNihon Kaisui is a producer of furikake (Japanese rice condiment) featured extensively in Umami Paris's furikake product line. Products include nori furikake, wasabi furikake, yuzu kosho furikake, five-vegetable furikake, katsuobushi furikake, noritama furikake, Ra-yu garlic furikake, and Japanese curry furikake. Multiple SKUs are imported and retailed on the Umami platform.
• BandominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBando is a Japanese producer featured on Umami's producer map (Carte des producteurs). They specialize in citrus products and are part of Umami's network of artisan suppliers across Japan.
• HottacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotta is a tea producer from Uji (Kyoto prefecture) supplying matcha to Umami Paris. Their matcha is organically certified (bio) and used in both the e-commerce product range (Matcha Impérial Bio, Matcha Premium Bio, Matcha Supérieur Bio) and the Matcha Café beverages. Hotta is featured as a key producer on the Carte des producteurs.
• ShibanumacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShibanuma is a soy sauce producer (part of the Carte des producteurs). Umami Paris imports their yuzu ponzu sauce (31 reviews, starting at €11.00), which is listed as a best-seller, and their soy sauce products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• La Vie Claire: Major French organic and natural product retail chain with hundreds of stores and an e-commerce platform. Comparable to Umami as a French specialty/organic grocery omnichannel operator, though at much broader scale and category breadth.
• Tang Frères: Historic French Asian (Chinese/Japanese/Pan-Asian) supermarket chain with both a large physical store and online grocery platform. Broader incumbent than Umami — much wider assortment and lower price points — but competes for the same imported Asian specialty grocery basket in France.
• Naturalia: French organic and specialty food retailer (owned by Casino group) with physical stores across France and online sales. Overlaps with Umami in the organic/bio specialty segment of its catalog.

Direct peers

• Kazidomi: Belgian-headquartered online specialty food retailer offering 5,000+ organic/healthy SKUs across Europe with subscription mechanics. Direct peer to Umami Paris: both are European D2C specialty food e-commerce operators targeting health/discovery-focused consumers with curated imported assortments.
• Kokoro: Paris-based Japanese-inspired café and takeaway concept with matcha and Japanese beverages. Direct competitor to Umami's Matcha Café footprint in Paris and an adjacent threat to its product curation around matcha and Japanese sweets.
• Palais des Thés: French specialty tea retailer with both physical boutiques across France and an e-commerce platform offering imported teas (including Japanese matcha). Comparable to Umami in curation, French specialty retail footprint, and tea category overlap.
• La Fourche: French organic and specialty food e-commerce platform with a subscription-based membership model. Comparable to Umami as a French D2C specialty grocery retailer competing for the same organic/imported-basket shopper.
• Thé japonais / Le Petit Japon: French e-commerce retailer specializing in Japanese food, drinks, and home goods. Closely comparable to Umami in category focus (Japanese grocery + tableware), customer base (France-based Japanophiles), and D2C model.

Emerging players

• Kushi: French/European online retailer of Japanese and Asian specialty foods with a similar D2C grocery model. Emerging player that competes for the same French/European Japanese-food consumer niche as Umami Paris.

Regional players

• Coutume: Paris-based specialty coffee roaster and café chain (and a named supplier to Umami's Matcha Café). Comparable as a French specialty beverage/café operator and as a supply-chain partner; not a direct grocery competitor but adjacent in café and curation culture.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/umamiparis
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umami-paris
• Instagraminstagram.com/umamiparis
• TikToktiktok.com/@umamiparis
• Pinterestpinterest.fr/umamiparis

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Umami Paris