This study analyzed the functions of buyers at prepared food companies and the relation between menu development and cooking by examining the presence of central kitchens and the scale of their client chains. The results suggest that buyers are involved in menu development at prepared food companies with a large client chain irrespective of whether they have a central kitchen and that buyers at companies with a small central kitchen do not function as menu developers. Furthermore, prepared food companies that do not have a central kitchen but have a large store chain typically develop their menus at their retail stores. In addition, prepared food companies that allow production centers to easily propose marketing activities covering menus and products do not have a central kitchen; rather, they seek out foods and develop menus at their stores.
