Given the rising popularity of Itoshima brand produce, Itoshima City held an event to showcase its fruits, vegetables, dairy products and seasonings at Matsuzakaya Department Store in Tokyo’s Ginza district from Jan. 12 to Jan. 14. Dubbed Itoshima Marche, the city’s first foray into Tokyo attracted 1,500 customers in three days. While Itoshima produce is recognized locally for being fresh and healthy, it is relatively unknown outside of Fukuoka. For this reason, the city planned the Tokyo event to promote itself as a “treasure trove of produce” and boost its online store sales. The market featured 40 different kinds of produce and processed foods, including tomatoes, onions, yogurt and sausages, and 100kg of Haruka mandarin oranges were sold on the first day alone.
Sales exceeded expectations on the first two days, but a snowstorm kept customers away on Jan. 14. All told, the event raked in ¥1.27 million. The Itoshima City Brand Promotion Department said it plans to use a variety of methods to expand sales channels going forward. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun
