April 2026: Meal Subsidies to See First Revision in 42 Years. Over 80% Perceive it as 'Actual Income,' 74.3% Prioritize it in Company Choice—Welfare Benefits Become a Key Indicator in Recruitment Competition

KOMPEITO Inc. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director CEO: Shun Watanabe), which operates the installed healthy in-office meal service "Office de Yasai," conducted a survey on "Lunch Circumstances and Meal Subsidies" targeting working individuals nationwide (YASAI PAY registrants) ahead of the planned increase in the non-taxable limit for meal subsidies in April 2026 (※1) (¥3,500 → ¥7,500). The survey results revealed that meal subsidies are not merely a welfare benefit but are perceived as "actual income." 84.7% of respondents felt that an increase in meal subsidy amounts would be "support for actual income," and 74.3% considered the presence or absence of meal subsidies "important" when choosing a job or changing jobs. This suggests that welfare benefits have become a crucial factor in companies' recruitment competitiveness. Furthermore, while 88.1% reported an increased awareness of saving on lunch due to rising prices, 89.5% responded that the current non-taxable limit (¥3,500 per month) is "too low." This indicates that the long-unchanged system no longer aligns with current living conditions. With the system revision in April 2026, the non-taxable limit for meal subsidies is expected to approximately double to ¥7,500 per month. This revision is anticipated to provide companies with a new option to support employees' actual take-home pay and increase its importance as a differentiating factor in the recruitment market. Against the backdrop of these societal changes, KOMPEITO aims to contribute to improving the health and dietary environment of working individuals and strengthening companies' recruitment and organizational capabilities through "Office de Yasai." (※1) National Tax Agency website "Regarding the increase in the non-taxable limit for in-kind meal benefits" https://www.nta.go.jp/users/gensen/2026shokuji/index.htm 1. Lunch "Savings Awareness" Reaches Its Limit: 88.1% are more conscious of saving due to rising prices than before. 2. Dissatisfaction with the 42-Year-Old System, "¥3,500 is Too Low": 89.5% responded that "the current non-taxable limit is too low." 3. Meal Subsidies Become "Actual Income Support": 84.7% perceive meal subsidies as "actual income support." 4. Impact on the Recruitment Market: 74.3% consider "meal subsidies" important when choosing a job. ■ Survey Details ① Accelerating "Lunch Savings," 56% Give a Dire Response of "Significantly Increased" When asked about the impact of recent price increases, 56.2% responded "significantly increased," and combined with "somewhat increased (31.9%)," a total of 88.1% reported an increased awareness of saving. This highlights the serious situation surrounding working individuals' lunch circumstances.