Over 237 Million Yen in Economic Ripple Effect, Creating 1,996 Matchmaking Opportunities!

Little World Co., Ltd. will once again implement "buyer’s room 2026 (September Division)" hosted by the National Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, aiming to promote specialty products developed with the support of chambers of commerce and industry, utilizing regional resources and technologies, and to support sales channel development for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small businesses.

This project, which began in fiscal year 2020, focuses on "screening-type business matchmaking" with an emphasis on business negotiations, resulting in a cumulative total of 1,996 new business negotiations over the past 11 sessions. This year, in addition to enhancing added value through awards, we aim to strengthen business matchmaking.

The application period for the September division is from July 1, 2026 (Wed) 10:00 AM to July 31, 2026 (Fri) 5:00 PM.

※Scenes from last year's screening

※"Ice Imo Karin (Baked Sweet Potato Imo Jiro)" which received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award in fiscal year 2025

【Background of Implementation】

For SMEs and small businesses engaged in manufacturing across the country, the common concern is "We have created products with high regional characteristics and added value, but we cannot promote them or develop sales channels, so they are only distributed within the region." The National Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry holds "buyer's room" as a new business matchmaking venue to create opportunities for sales channel development for SMEs and small businesses nationwide.

【What is buyer’s room?】

"buyer's room" is part of an initiative to solve challenges in product development and sales channel development faced by SMEs and small businesses from all over the country, in collaboration with distributors such as buyers and chefs.

We recruit products from businesses nationwide aiming for sales channel development, and distributors will conduct screenings and select products for business negotiations at a venue in Tokyo. Exhibitors have many participation benefits, such as gaining opportunities for sales channel development while staying in their region without travel costs.

(1) Screening Session (Held on September 15, 2026)

Approximately 40 buyer companies (supermarkets, select shops, mail order, catalog gifts, restaurants, delivery services, wholesale companies, etc.), who agree with the purpose, will gather as judges and conduct screenings through tasting, etc. Buyer companies will offer special judges' awards for products they wish to negotiate business with, creating distribution opportunities.

(2) Award Ceremony

Awards will be given for the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, Commissioner of Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Award, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Special Judges' Award, and National Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Award.

The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award and the Commissioner of Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Award will be determined based on the voting results from "buyer's room 2026 (November Division)". The product with the most votes will receive the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, and the product with the second highest number of votes will receive the Commissioner of Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Award. These awards are presented only once a year and are scheduled to be announced in December 2026.

(3) PR of Award-Winning Products to Distributors

The "Team Chef" project, planned and operated by Little World Co., Ltd., which serves as the secretariat for this project, has a network of 900 distributors including buyers and chefs, and has a track record of over 900 matchmaking sessions annually for sales channel development with SMEs and small businesses. For products that have received special judges' awards or other awards in this project, product PR will be conducted via email distribution to over 50 distributors.

【Case Examples of Achievements】

・1,996 new business negotiations in 11 cumulative sessions

・63 products generated sales of over 1 million yen through matchmaking in this initiative

・Over 237 million yen in sales effect through matchmaking

※The above are achievements from 2020 to January 2026.

【buyer’s room Overview】

・Application Period: July 1, 2026 (Wed) - July 31, 2026 (Fri) 5:00 PM

・Document Screening: August 3 (Mon), 4 (Tue), 2026

・Notification of Selection Results: August 5 (Wed), 2026

・Screening Session: September 15, 2026 (Tue) *To be held in Tokyo

・Notification and Announcement of Awards: Mid-October 2026 *Notification by mail, announcement on HP

・Entry Categories: Food... Processed goods (processed foods, seasonings, sweets, beverages/alcoholic beverages, etc.)

・Entry Fee: General Price: 27,500 yen for the first product, 16,500 yen for the second product *Includes tax

(For businesses that pass document screening only): Chamber of Commerce Member Special Price: 11,000 yen for the first product, 5,500 yen for the second product

・Number of Products for Screening Session: Approximately 100 products after document screening

・Special Cooperation: Team Chef

【About Application】

Please apply from "Apply Now" at the bottom of the National Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry site "CANVAS" page below.

Application Site URL: https://www.canvas-shokokai.jp/service/btob/6742/

※An account for the CANVAS site (member registration) is required to apply.

【Information on Partner Buyer Companies Serving as Judges (Scheduled)】 (In Japanese alphabetical order)

I.B.S., AKOMEYA TOKYO, Ardis, Anshindo, Imikoto Marche, Oishii Funding, Oizumi Foods, Office Matsumoto DKS, Kitano Ace, Camel Coffee, Keihan Department Store, Kodawariya, Shizen Shokuhin F&F, Shinanoya Foods, JALUX, Shokubunka, Suzukiya, Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Store, Takashimaya, Tabechoku, Choco CRAFT, TV Tokyo Direct, Tokyu Department Store, West Japan Railway Company, Nihon Department Store, Harvest, Halmek, Hinomaru Suns, Food Craft, Felissimo, Premium Water, Beruf, Positive Dream Persons, Hotel Okura Tokyo Bay, Makuake, Maison Givre, Yoshikei Higashi Saitama/Banshu, Yoshikei Tochigi Foods/Yoshikei Ibaraki, Royal, Ropping Life

buyer’s room Official Homepage: https://buyers-room.com/

【What is a Chamber of Commerce and Industry?】

A Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a public organization established mainly in towns and villages based on the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Act. There are 1,587 Chambers of Commerce and Industry nationwide (as of April 1, R8), 47 prefectural federations in each prefecture, and approximately 800,000 businesses and other entities are members. The National Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a comprehensive economic organization with prefectural chambers of commerce and industry as its members.

【Contact Information for This Matter】

buyer’s room Operations Secretariat (Little World Co., Ltd.)

Contact: Arakane, Hattori, Iida Email: info@team-chef.jp TEL: 03-6416-8657