抄録
This is a case study of three distributors specific to organic food in Japan. This study was carried out with the goal of revealing the features of market and supply chain structure in organic food Sector. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: first, the organic processed food market remains a niche market where limited products provided by few chain actors. Secondly, there are fewer chain actors dealing with domestic products or foodstuffs in organic processed food chain, while a lot of actors related to importing organic products. Thirdly, currently, the function of organic processed food supply chain has mainly been the responsibility of processors, distributors and stores which are primarily small and medium - size firms specific to organic and nature food until. Fourthly, as for imported organic food, large-scale trade companies, manufactures, and retailers are going to heighten the products concentration in the organic processed food market. Therefore, finally, there is a possibility that an organic food supply chain composed by those large-scale firms may replace to the current chain structure.
