menu Launches Japan's First Tobacco Delivery Service on a Food Delivery Platform
menu Inc. has launched Japan's first tobacco delivery service on a food delivery platform. Operating within a 6km radius of 'Tobacco Shop Kadoya' in Shinjuku Ward, the service ensures delivery in as little as 30 minutes. To prevent sales to minors and fraudulent use, the company has implemented a proprietary, multi-stage identity verification system including pre-screening, facial recognition at checkout, and mandatory in-person delivery.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 21, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 21, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 21, 2026 at 10:45 (14 min after Collected)
menu Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Atsuo Shinoda), operator of the delivery app 'menu,' has begun offering 'tobacco' products within a 6km radius of 'Tobacco Shop Kadoya' in Yotsuya-sakamachi, Shinjuku Ward, marking the first time a food delivery platform has offered such items (according to the company's own research).
In recent years, food delivery services have shifted roles from just delivering meals to becoming essential social infrastructure, allowing users to receive necessary items immediately. menu is expanding its product lineup through partnerships with retail stores to meet the diverse needs of its users.
Responding to many user requests, the company has launched tobacco delivery for the first time in the industry.
This service is initially available within a 6km radius of 'Tobacco Shop Kadoya' in Shinjuku. Users can order various brands of cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products available at the shop, with delivery in as little as 30 minutes.
To ensure safe delivery, menu has newly developed a proprietary multi-stage identity verification system combining pre-registration checks with authentication at the time of purchase and receipt. In addition to pre-screening using external services to match official identification with a selfie, users must perform facial recognition and enter their ID (email address) and password for every purchase to prevent sales to minors and identity theft. Furthermore, in-person handover by the delivery person is mandatory, with order number verification and, if necessary, inspection of official identification documents to ensure safety.
In the fiercely competitive food delivery industry, menu continues to provide unique delivery experiences. Offering tobacco is more than just expanding products; it is a unique initiative by menu. In the future, the company aims to introduce this to diverse retail formats and implement features for concurrent purchases of related items, expanding its role as 'social infrastructure' to support daily life beyond existing frameworks.
● Details on Tobacco Delivery
Launch Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Target Store: 'Tobacco Shop Kadoya' (6-20 Yotsuya-sakamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
Target Area: Within a 6km radius of 'Tobacco Shop Kadoya'
Eligibility: menu app users (aged 20 or older who have completed identity verification)
Products Covered: Cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco, etc.
Delivery Method: In-person handover to the pre-registered address (matching the address on official ID)
* Orders containing tobacco are ineligible for Ponta points usage.
* Orders containing tobacco are ineligible for delivery fee waivers like 'Ponta Pass.'
* Credit card payment only is accepted for orders containing tobacco.
* Contactless delivery is not available for orders containing tobacco.
* Ponta points are not awarded for tobacco purchases.
* Gacha medals and online claw machine tickets are not awarded for tobacco purchases.
* A system fee of 170 yen per order will be charged for the tobacco ordering and verification process, in addition to regular delivery fees.
* Additional fees such as service fees (10% of product price) and small-order fees (180 yen for under 1,000 yen) may apply.
● Order and ID Verification Process
To prevent sales to minors and third-party misuse, the following three processes have been introduced:
1. Pre-screening
- Identity verification via matching official ID with a selfie image
2. Order-time Authentication
- Facial recognition
- Entry of ID (email address) and password
3. Receipt Verification
- Mandatory in-person handover by the delivery person
- Verification of official identification if necessary
- Order number verification
In recent years, food delivery services have shifted roles from just delivering meals to becoming essential social infrastructure, allowing users to receive necessary items immediately. menu is expanding its product lineup through partnerships with retail stores to meet the diverse needs of its users.
Responding to many user requests, the company has launched tobacco delivery for the first time in the industry.
This service is initially available within a 6km radius of 'Tobacco Shop Kadoya' in Shinjuku. Users can order various brands of cigarettes and heat-not-burn tobacco products available at the shop, with delivery in as little as 30 minutes.
To ensure safe delivery, menu has newly developed a proprietary multi-stage identity verification system combining pre-registration checks with authentication at the time of purchase and receipt. In addition to pre-screening using external services to match official identification with a selfie, users must perform facial recognition and enter their ID (email address) and password for every purchase to prevent sales to minors and identity theft. Furthermore, in-person handover by the delivery person is mandatory, with order number verification and, if necessary, inspection of official identification documents to ensure safety.
In the fiercely competitive food delivery industry, menu continues to provide unique delivery experiences. Offering tobacco is more than just expanding products; it is a unique initiative by menu. In the future, the company aims to introduce this to diverse retail formats and implement features for concurrent purchases of related items, expanding its role as 'social infrastructure' to support daily life beyond existing frameworks.
● Details on Tobacco Delivery
Launch Date: Thursday, May 14, 2026
Target Store: 'Tobacco Shop Kadoya' (6-20 Yotsuya-sakamachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo)
Target Area: Within a 6km radius of 'Tobacco Shop Kadoya'
Eligibility: menu app users (aged 20 or older who have completed identity verification)
Products Covered: Cigarettes, heat-not-burn tobacco, etc.
Delivery Method: In-person handover to the pre-registered address (matching the address on official ID)
* Orders containing tobacco are ineligible for Ponta points usage.
* Orders containing tobacco are ineligible for delivery fee waivers like 'Ponta Pass.'
* Credit card payment only is accepted for orders containing tobacco.
* Contactless delivery is not available for orders containing tobacco.
* Ponta points are not awarded for tobacco purchases.
* Gacha medals and online claw machine tickets are not awarded for tobacco purchases.
* A system fee of 170 yen per order will be charged for the tobacco ordering and verification process, in addition to regular delivery fees.
* Additional fees such as service fees (10% of product price) and small-order fees (180 yen for under 1,000 yen) may apply.
● Order and ID Verification Process
To prevent sales to minors and third-party misuse, the following three processes have been introduced:
1. Pre-screening
- Identity verification via matching official ID with a selfie image
2. Order-time Authentication
- Facial recognition
- Entry of ID (email address) and password
3. Receipt Verification
- Mandatory in-person handover by the delivery person
- Verification of official identification if necessary
- Order number verification
FAQ
How long does it take for menu to deliver tobacco?
Tobacco products are delivered in as little as 30 minutes from order placement.
Can I request contactless delivery for tobacco?
No, contactless delivery is not available for orders containing tobacco as in-person identity verification is mandatory.
Can I use Ponta points when ordering tobacco?
No, Ponta points cannot be used or earned for orders that include tobacco products.