Junro Ito, Chairman of Seven & I Holdings, Appointed Advisor to 'Niigata FoodTech Town' to Make Niigata a Global FoodTech Hub

Oisix Ra De大地 Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Kohei Takashima; hereinafter "the company"), a provider of food subscription services, and NSG Group (Headquarters: Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture; Representative: Shogo Ikeda), which operates education, medical, welfare, and nursing care businesses primarily in Niigata, jointly promote the 'Niigata FoodTech Town' (hereinafter NFTT). Starting Monday, June 1, 2026, Junro Ito, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd., will assume the role of 'Advisor' to strongly support entrepreneurs.

Background and Purpose of the Appointment

NFTT is a project that aims to build an ecosystem where innovative entrepreneurs can continuously emerge, leveraging Niigata’s rich food assets and establishing an 'All-Niigata' framework that transcends the boundaries of industry (business), government (administration), academia (universities), and finance (financial institutions). To achieve the goal of creating 500 startups from Niigata, practical insights and strong mentorship are essential for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to overcome challenges. In this context, Mr. Junro Ito, Chairman of Seven & I Holdings—one of Japan’s leading retail and distribution companies—has been invited as an advisor.

Role of the NFTT Advisor

Drawing on his extensive experience in leading Japan’s food industry, Mr. Ito will strongly support startup growth through the following activities:

- Direct advice and mentoring for entrepreneurs: Providing practical guidance to seed and early-stage startups based on expertise in business development

- Judging and speaking at pitch contests and events: Participating as a speaker and judge at NFTT-hosted summits and events, including pitch competitions by entrepreneurs

- Strategic recommendations to NFTT: Offering advice on ecosystem development from a management perspective

Introduction of the Advisor and Appointment Statement

Junro Ito, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd.

[Career Background]

After serving in key roles at Seven-Eleven Japan, including regional store operations management and marketing leadership, Mr. Ito transferred to Seven & I Holdings—the company’s holding entity—in May 2009. He has held various leadership positions, including Chief Sustainability Officer, General Manager of Superstore Business, and Chief Administrative Officer. Since May 2025, he has served as Representative Director and Chairman, concurrently holding the position of Chairman of the Board at York Holdings.

[Statement upon Appointment]

I recognize the Niigata FoodTech Town initiative as highly significant, as it accelerates the sustainable growth and social implementation of Japan’s foodtech industry by enabling cross-sector collaboration among startups, large corporations, academia, government, and financial institutions, with Niigata as a real-world implementation hub. Our group is also actively addressing various food-related challenges, such as sustainable ingredient sourcing, food waste reduction, and support for regional agriculture. I believe these challenges cannot be solved by any single company alone; diverse players must pool their knowledge and technologies to move forward together. As an appointed advisor, I will leverage my experience to help NFTT advance into the implementation phase and contribute to concrete co-creation and commercialization outcomes.

About Niigata FoodTech Town (NFTT)

'Niigata FoodTech Town (NFTT)' is a project promoted by Oisix Ra De大地 and NSG Group to build a world-class foodtech ecosystem in Niigata. To transform Japan’s outstanding food culture and technologies into international competitiveness, NFTT leverages Niigata’s rich food resources, traditional fermentation techniques, and the concentration of food companies and research institutions. Through collaboration among industry, government, academia, and finance, NFTT provides comprehensive support—from funding via foodtech-dedicated funds, to pilot experiments in partnership with large enterprises, to global expansion through international partners.

Aiming to create 500 startups and achieve cumulative sales of ¥500 billion, NFTT works to revitalize the food industry and solve social challenges, while promoting domestic growth and global expansion of Japan’s food sector. Amid rising concerns about food security and health, NFTT also aims to strengthen Japan’s food industry competitiveness and ensure sustainable growth by fostering new industries centered on food.

About Oisix Ra De大地 Co., Ltd.

Oisix Ra De大地 Co., Ltd. provides subscription-based delivery services for safe and安心 agricultural products and meal kits through its major domestic brands 'Oisix,' 'Radium Boya,' and 'The Association for the Protection of the Earth.' Its subsidiaries include 'Sidax Contract Food Service,' which operates catering services for offices and schools; 'Sidax Food Service,' which provides meals for hospitals, elderly care facilities, kindergartens, and nurseries; 'Tokushimaru,' a mobile supermarket for people with limited access to shopping; and 'Purple Carrot,' which offers plant-based meal kits in the United States. The company is expanding services that address food-related social issues. As a 'Sustainable Retailer,' it actively contributes to the SDGs by leveraging subscription models for demand forecasting, actively utilizing imperfect produce, and offering meal kits that reduce household food waste, aiming for zero food loss across the entire supply chain from farm to table.