"Turning Voices into Form Without Fail": Exhibition and Trade Fair to Lead the Osechi and Hors d'oeuvres Business Season to Success

GFC Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kasamatsu-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu Prefecture; President & CEO: Koichi Nishimura), which plans, develops, and wholesales processed foods for businesses, will hold a core exhibition and trade fair focused on "Osechi and Hors d'oeuvres Proposals" at its Fukuoka Branch. This exhibition is designed not as a conventional "product showcase" but as a "participatory exhibition" that realizes problem-solving and product commercialization originating from user voices. Its purpose is to collect on-site challenges from visitors in real-time and, in collaboration with manufacturers, materialize them into "products that will actually be used."

In recent years, the food service and accommodation industries have seen the emergence of challenges such as: * Increasingly serious labor shortages * Increased burden of preparation and plating * Addressing inventory loss

Especially during the year-end business season, "Osechi" (traditional Japanese New Year's multi-course meal) and hors d'oeuvres represent sales opportunities, but they also entail significant operational burdens and risks, making "fail-safe proposals" a highly sought-after domain.

Against this backdrop, this exhibition emphasizes proposals that not only "sell well" but also "can be managed in the field and leave a profit."

**Exhibition Concept** **(1) Osechi and Hors d'oeuvres Proposals** As a flagship proposal directly linked to the year-end business season, we will propose product designs that "do not fail," including: * Stable supply and loss reduction through frozen Osechi. * Labor and efficiency savings through hors d'oeuvres kits.

In particular, "hors d'oeuvres kits" are a new initiative where we consult with customers in advance on plate selection, plating, and pricing designs, providing them in a state ready for direct proposal and closing of business.

**(2) Breakfast Buffet Proposals** Addressing the needs of accommodation facilities, we will offer practical menu proposals centered on: * Labor saving * Utilization of local ingredients * Reduction of operational burden

**(3) OEM Proposals** Looking ahead to product development tailored to individual customer needs, we will promote the concrete realization of OEM development starting from this exhibition.

**Benefits for Visitors** * Find concrete menus and products that can be introduced as-is. * Understand proposal methods that ensure success in the year-end business season. * Directly connect field challenges to product commercialization. * Simultaneously grasp the latest industry trends and practical solutions.

**Event Overview** * Dates: Day 1: April 21, 2026 (Tuesday) / Day 2: April 22, 2026 (Wednesday) * Venue: GFC Co., Ltd. Fukuoka Branch (6-10-56 Tsukiguma, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City) * Participation Method: Pre-registration required.

*Please download the application form below and submit it via fax.*

**About GFC Co., Ltd.** Our company upholds the vision: "To create 'delicious encounters,' to spread delicious smiles to the world." Since our founding, we have conveyed the excellence of Japanese food culture nationwide and globally through the planning, development, and sales of processed foods for businesses. Through approximately 30,000 product items and collaboration with over 1,000 partner companies, we achieve a stable supply of high-quality and safe products. Furthermore, our products that save the labor of preparing ingredients like peeling vegetables and slicing fish significantly improve the operational efficiency of kitchens. We also offer high-value-added products such as Japan's three major delicacies and rare ingredients from around the world, receiving high praise from high-end restaurants and specialty stores. Additionally, in response to an aging society, we are focusing on developing functional foods that consider ease of eating and nutritional value required in medical and nursing care settings. Moving forward, as creators of "food," we will continue to contribute to customer smiles and the development of global food culture.