Experience the Moment a 'Supplier' Becomes a 'Customer'. Nikkane Partners with Kagome to Implement a Reversal Training Program to Prevent Young BtoB Professionals from 'Losing Their Sense of Purpose'

April 6, 2026

Nikkane, a wholesale food distributor, conducted practical training for 8 new employees, in collaboration with Kagome. This unique program allowed new recruits to experience their products from the customer's perspective, specifically by eating meals made with Nikkane's ingredients at Kagome's employee cafeteria, addressing the common issue of BtoB employees feeling disconnected from the end-user impact.

eventNQ 100/100出典：PR Times

📋 Article Processing Timeline

📰 Published: April 6, 2026 at 23:00
🔍 Collected: April 6, 2026 at 14:30
🤖 AI Analyzed: April 17, 2026 at 14:09 (263h 38m after Collected)

【Entrance Ceremony: 8 New Employees Join】

Nikkane Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kaminokawa-machi, Kawachi-gun, Tochigi Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Yosuke Kaneda; hereinafter referred to as "the Company"), which operates a wholesale business for commercial food products, conducted practical human resource development training for 8 new employees from March 31 to April 3, 2026. The most significant feature of this training was leveraging the deep trust built with partner company Kagome Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Kagome-sama) to incorporate a "reversal customer experience" where participants would eat the very ingredients they supply, at the cafeteria of the company they supply to.

■ Background of Implementation: Resolving the "Lack of Fulfillment" Unique to the BtoB Industry

While the food distribution industry is an indispensable infrastructure supporting medical, welfare, and school meal services, it has few points of contact with general consumers. This poses a challenge for young employees who often find it difficult to see "who their work is making happy." To ensure new employees do not feel bewildered by the gap between their pre-employment image and the actual work environment, and to foster pride in their work early on, our company designed a program that provides a comprehensive experience from the "upstream (manufacturer)" to the "front-line workplace (our company)" and down to the "downstream (final consumption)."

■ Three Notable "Unique Characteristics"

1. Utilizing a Special Partnership that is Both a "Supplier" and a "Customer"

Kagome-sama is not only an important supplier to our company but also a "valued customer" to whom we deliver our ingredients. New employees learn about this unique relationship and directly experience the site where the ingredients they transport support the vitality of employees at one of Japan's leading manufacturers.

【First Step as a Professional: Picking Training】

【First Step as a Professional: Office Work Training】

2. Special Menu Experience with "Nikkane Delivered Ingredients" at Kagome Nasu Factory

On the final day of training, new employees tasted a "Trainee Special Menu" at the employee cafeteria of the Kagome Nasu Factory, a collaboration of ingredients delivered by our company and Kagome products. By experiencing the moment when "numbers on an invoice" become a dish that delights someone, they gain a sense of the social value that transcends the BtoB framework.

3. Hybrid Education of On-site Practical Training and Manufacturer Training

By combining hands-on practical training at the headquarters warehouse, such as picking (for general positions) and order system operations (for administrative positions), with a factory tour of a national brand, new employees gain an understanding of the overall picture of the vast food distribution ecosystem.

■ Implementation Overview

Entrance Ceremony: March 31, 2026, attended by 8 new employees. Congratulatory addresses by the Representative Director and executives, and appointment letter conferral were conducted.
New Graduate Training: April 1st and 2nd, warehouse and administrative practical training at the head office. April 3rd, factory tour and customer experience of the special menu at Kagome Nasu Factory.

■ About Nikkane Co., Ltd.

Established in 1975. A specialized trading company handling over 10,000 items of commercial food products.

We continue to play a crucial role in supporting social infrastructure by providing "stable and safe food supply" to facilities such as welfare facilities, hospitals, and schools. Recognizing the grave responsibility of a business directly connected to people's lives and health, we are committed to achieving the highest level of service. Through strong partnerships with major food manufacturers and a community-based network of 16 bases across Eastern Japan, we have established a meticulous and prompt delivery system. With sales of 37.8 billion yen and 850 employees, our company is committed to creating a workplace environment where employees can cooperate and grow together under the motto of "Harmony and Fun." We are promoting work-style reforms centered on "health-conscious management" and emphasizing work-life balance, including the active recruitment of part-time staff and the introduction of systems. We continue to grow as a "food infrastructure company" that supports the food culture of Eastern Japan through food safety and trust.