Labor Shortage Bankruptcies in Elderly Care Services Up 50% Year-on-Year, Burden of Meal Provision Also a Challenge; Inquiries for Shidax's "Time-Efficient Meals" for Elderly Facilities Double Year-on-Year

Oisix Ra Daichi Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Kohei Takashima, hereinafter "Our Company"), a subsidiary of Oisix Ra Daichi Co., Ltd., which provides food subscription services, and Shidax Food Service Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Yusuke Tsutsumi, hereinafter "SF"), which provides meal services to elderly care facilities nationwide, conducted a survey of nutritionists and staff at facilities considering introducing or switching meal services. The survey was conducted amid increasing difficulty in securing personnel, with "labor shortage bankruptcies" among elderly care service providers increasing by 50% from the previous year. The results revealed that labor shortages have made "meal" provision, including対応 to various food textures, a significant challenge.

SF has been developing "Genki Gohan with Oisix," a new meal service operation model that addresses labor shortages in elderly care facilities and nutritional deficiencies in residents, with "time-efficient meals" (taipa) as a keyword, since last year. Driven by the challenges of diversifying and complexifying dietary needs, inquiries and new contracts are both growing at a pace of approximately double that of the previous year.

(※) Taipa: Time Performance (Time Efficiency)

URL: https://shidax-fs.co.jp/healthcare/genki-gohan-with-oisix

▲ Image of "Genki Gohan with Oisix" provision

Bankruptcies of Elderly Care Service Providers Remain High... Operational Challenges Such as Securing Personnel and Rising Prices Worsen

As the population ages, the social role of elderly care facilities is expected to become increasingly important. Meanwhile, according to a survey by Teikoku Databank, the number of bankruptcies among "elderly care service providers," such as housing for the elderly and nursing homes, in 2025 was 139, the same level as in 2024 (140 cases), which was the highest on record. Among these, "labor shortage bankruptcies" accounted for 21 cases, a 50% increase from 2024 (14 cases)※, indicating that operational challenges surrounding elderly care facilities, such as securing personnel and responding to rising prices, are becoming more severe.

※ Source: Teikoku Databank "Bankruptcy Trends of Elderly Care Service Providers" (2025)

Inquiries for Meal Services Increase Double Year-on-Year, New Contracts Also Follow Same Pace

Against this backdrop, SF, which provides the new meal model "Genki Gohan with Oisix" for elderly care facilities, is seeing an increase in inquiries from these facilities.

In 2025, the number of inquiries increased 11-fold compared to 2023, and in 2026, the number of inquiries by June is approaching last year's annual total, growing at a pace of approximately double year-on-year. Inquiries include requests for "streamlining meal service operations," "addressing labor shortages in kitchens," and "対応 to soft food textures," indicating consultations aimed at reducing operational burdens and ensuring stable meal services.

Furthermore, the number of new meal service contracts by SF is also increasing at a pace of approximately double year-on-year, and facilities are increasingly considering its adoption as a new option that achieves both efficiency and quality in meal service operations.

Labor Shortages Directly Impact Quality of Meal Services; "対応 to Various Food Textures" is the Most Common Challenge in Meal Service Operations

SF conducted telephone interviews with nutritionists and staff at elderly care facilities to understand their current meal service operations and improvement needs.

In elderly care facilities, meal provision is one of the most labor-intensive operations due to the need to accommodate multiple food textures, manage nutrition, and provide individualized meals according to each resident's swallowing ability and health condition. Feedback from the interviews included comments such as "We cook in-house, so labor shortages due to staff illness or shift changes are a problem" and "Due to labor shortages, we are forced to change menus, reducing the variety of special occasion meals." This highlights the reality that labor shortages directly impact the quality and operational burden of meal services.

The specific challenges in meal service operations due to labor shortages were most frequently "対応 to food textures and soft food" (48.4%), followed by "monotonous menus and lack of variety" (20.0%), "supplementary foods and nutritional support needs" (17.3%), "improvement of color and appearance" (16.3%), and "labor saving and simplification of cooking" (15.8%). While the need for individualized meal対応 is increasing with the aging population, the necessity to manage with limited staff poses a significant challenge to meal service operations in elderly care facilities.

<Survey Overview>

- Target: Nutritionists and facility staff at 190 facilities considering the introduction or switching of meal services, with issues and improvement needs related to meals.

- Survey Period: June 15, 2026 - June 27, 2026 (Telephone survey)

※ When using the content of this survey, please be sure to cite "Shidax Food Service Survey on Meal Service Operation Challenges" as the source.

"Genki Gohan with Oisix" Supports Resolution of Challenges in Elderly Care Facilities

To address these challenges faced by elderly care facilities, Our Company and SF are strengthening their service offerings, focusing on "time-efficient meals" (taipa) as a keyword, to improve the efficiency of meal service operations and working conditions.

The new meal service operation model, "Genki Gohan with Oisix," is designed to stably address labor shortages and provide added value to the meals offered. It features three types of senior meals that can accommodate all individuals, and the "Sugo-Calo" series, which provides sufficient nutrition in small portions, all as "fully pre-cooked meals." Leveraging SF's over 65 years of specialized expertise in meal service operations and Our Company's know-how in product development with the theme of "premium time-saving" for general consumers, which focuses on reducing cooking time and enhancing the added value of menu items, we have created senior meals that are "safe and secure" and delicious for everyone.

<Features of "Genki Gohan with Oisix">

1. Simpler Senior Meals Than Traditional Textures

Three types: regular, soft, and pureed, offering a delightful eating experience for everyone.

High calorie in small portions = "Sugo-Calo"

Even for those with reduced appetite, the portion size is manageable and provides adequate nutrition.

"Sugo-Calo Series" such as okayu (rice porridge).

2. Labor Saving with "Fully Pre-Cooked Meals"

No cooking required at the facility; delicious meals can be served simply by reheating.

Eliminates the need for early morning shifts to prepare rice, also addressing recruitment challenges.

▲ From left: Regular, soft, and pureed meals

Through "Genki Gohan with Oisix," SF aims to contribute to solving the meal service operation challenges faced by elderly care facilities, and by stably delivering delicious, easy-to-eat meals that provide essential nutrition, we aim to improve the health and quality of life of the residents.

Consultation and Inquiries Regarding Introduction of "Genki Gohan with Oisix"

Facilities considering the introduction of "Genki Gohan with Oisix" can receive guidance from our representatives sequentially upon inquiry. Facilities wishing to learn more about the service or discuss its introduction are welcome to contact the secretariat below.

【Genki Gohan with Oisix Secretariat】

Inquiries here: https://shidax-fs.co.jp/healthcare/genki-gohan-with-oisix

TEL: 050-5810-2509

About Shidax Food Service

Shidax, which began operations with employee cafeterias in 1959, has over 60 years of experience in the meal service business. Through subsequent spin-offs, Shidax Food Service has been providing "safe and secure," health-conscious, and delicious meals primarily to kindergartens, nursery schools, hospitals, and elderly care facilities.

※ Shidax Food Service Co., Ltd. will merge with Shidax Contract Food Service Co., Ltd. on July 1, 2026, and will become Shidax Food Service Co., Ltd.

About Oisix Ra Daichi Co., Ltd.

※ As of July 1, 2026, the company name will be changed to "Oisix Co., Ltd."

Oisix Ra Daichi Co., Ltd. provides regular delivery services for safe and secure agricultural products and meal kits through its major domestic brands such as "Oisix," "Radishbo-ya," and "Daichi wo Mamoru Kai." Its subsidiaries include "Shidax Contract Food Service," which operates meal services for businesses and schools; "Shidax Food Service," which operates meal services for hospitals, elderly care facilities, nursery schools, and kindergartens; "Tokushima Maru," 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 solve social issues related to food. Furthermore, as "Sustainable Retail," it is engaged in SDGs initiatives, aiming for zero food loss throughout the supply chain, from farm to table, through demand forecasting using subscription models, active utilization of imperfect produce, and meal kits that reduce food waste at home.