量販店によるクロマグロの取扱実態と仕入行動の特質

抄録

The resource utilization issue of the bluefin tuna （BFT） has sparked worldwide concern.　This study intends to clarify the characteristic features of the merchandizing behavior of supermarkets （SM） having large sales in Japan.

Domestic BFT supply reached its peak in 2006, and the market price showed an overall rising trend.　However, this price rise of cultured and wild BFT captured by purse seines was observed only for a few years following the announcement of the policy to strengthen resource management.　There is a possibility that it may have been affected by the business behavior of key stakeholders.　Therefore, we conducted a questionnaire survey by mail among 1,070 SM nationwide to grasp the actual situation regarding procurement and sales.　We received 293 valid responses.　Based on this, the following points were observed.　Sales promotion of fatty tuna, such as BFT, has been strengthened as differentiated goods.　However, handling of these promotions goes hand-in-hand with a large sales loss stemming from the commodity’s high price and short sales time limit.　SM are strongly motivated to control the purchasing cost because shifting sales loss to retail price lowers the consumption demand.　Related to this, an analysis to determine factors that affect maximum purchasing price suggests that there is a possibility that the SM’s purchasing behavior causes the aforementioned short-term price fall.

An investigation into the SM’s strategic behavior to reduce purchasing cost, sales loss, and/or opportunity loss from the business-relation viewpoint with a supplier would also be an important subject to help clarify the structure and problems within the present food system regarding BFT.