Mandai, with its very strong ties with its supplier partners, receives new product information first, and is also involved in developing new products.
We continually challenge conventional ideas and methods, adapt to change, and create innovative products and sales floors that attract consumers.
Mandai offers renowned specialties, offering exclusive products synonymous with the supermarket.
Mandai began as a mere 1.8-meter-wide soap shop in 1949. Since then, it has offered quality products at reasonable prices and has actively developed products that meet customers’ needs. The founder, Susumu Kato, had a dream of “growing Mandai into the number one supermarket and company in Japan,” and he worked hard with his employees and partner companies to realize his dream. Over half a century later and Mandai continues to grow as the leading supermarket in the Kansai region.
Our logistics centers ensure efficient handling of various products, including fresh foods, dry goods, refrigerated items, and frozen goods, maintaining a high level of freshness across all our stores. We also support local children’s cafeterias and have agreements with local governments to provide emergency aid during disasters. By supplying food and beverages, we contribute to sustainable disaster prevention measures locally.
With the help of our customers, our stores actively collect plastic trays, plastic bottles, and paper cartons to promote recycling. We are also working to reduce our CO2 emissions by installing solar panels on the roofs of our stores and logistics centers. Through this initiative, our stores are operated using clean electricity and contribute to the global environment.
Mandai’s management philosophy is to “respect the time and lives of our colleagues and their families” and we are making various efforts to achieve this. For example, Mandai’s corporate university, Mandai Knowledge Merchant College, offers courses on retail management taught by professional instructors. In addition, the training center provides technical training and creates an environment where both men and women can actively take childcare leave. Furthermore, we prioritize creating a comfortable workplace by supporting the technical intern training program for foreign nationals, promoting the employment of people with disabilities, and implementing measures to maintain and improve physical and mental health. Through these initiatives, Mandai provides an environment where employees and their families can live fulfilling lives.
We believe that building long-term relationships with our supply chain partners and promoting harmony and mutual prosperity are mutually beneficial. In business negotiations, we aim to be fair and sincere and to establish a win-win relationship with those we do business.
We established the Mandai Fund in 2012 to express our gratitude and give back to the local community for their many years of support. Specifically, we support children in foster care who cannot live with their parents.
Every year, we provide Christmas presents to everyone who requests them (approximately 3,000–4,000 children), and we also provide gift money to all eligible students (approximately 300 students) to celebrate their progression to higher education. We also provide university enrollment subsidies (up to 200,000 yen) and university admission fees (up to 300,000 yen) to support young people who aim to go to university. Furthermore, as part of our university entrance support program, we provide our refurbished Mandai employee dormitory free of charge for four years.
Mandai stores employ various creative ideas to make shopping more enjoyable. The fresh fish counter offers fresh seafood in a vending style like a fish shop We also offer freshly baked and prepared foods such as freshly baked bread and pizza, as well as sushi made at the store. At the deli counter, we sell prepared foods made from carefully selected seasonal ingredients by weight. Also, for customers who might get hungry while shopping, we also offer an eat-in corner where they can enjoy food and drinks and relax.
Mandai offers a private brand called “Mandai Senpin” (Mandai Selections) as well as Mandai original products known as “Yorozu-no Ippin” (Mandai Finest). Furthermore, we stock over several hundred different original products, including products produced in collaboration with nationwide brands. We offer a unique lineup of products, including “Yorozu Beef,” crossbred domestic beef carefully selected from all over the country, and pork brand “Satsuma Kiwami Pork.”
We have developed these products with the constant consideration of pleasing our customers and aim to create a sense of luxury and exclusivity in which they are available for a limited time and only at Mandai. We pursue quality products and customer satisfaction, and always strive to provide new value.