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Introduction & Market Context
Kobe Bussan Co. Ltd. (TYO:3038) presented its third-quarter fiscal year 2025 financial results on September 11, 2025, showcasing substantial growth across all key metrics. The company, known for its Gyomu Super discount supermarket chain, has capitalized on Japan’s savings-oriented consumer trends while continuing its aggressive store expansion strategy.
The stock closed at ¥4,086 on the presentation day, down slightly by 0.1%, but remains significantly above its 52-week low of ¥3,170 as investors continue to recognize the company’s consistent growth trajectory.
Quarterly Performance Highlights
Kobe Bussan reported impressive financial results for the first nine months of fiscal 2025, with substantial growth across all major metrics. Net sales increased 9.1% year-over-year to ¥411,553 million, while operating profit jumped 13.9% to ¥30,339 million.
Most notably, ordinary profit surged 74.0% to ¥38,249 million, with the ordinary margin expanding from 5.8% to 9.3%. Profit attributable to owners of the parent company saw a similar dramatic increase of 76.5% to ¥26,199 million, with net margin improving from 3.9% to 6.4%.
As shown in the following comprehensive financial overview:
The company’s profitability metrics showed consistent improvement, with gross margin expanding from 11.7% to 12.0%. While SG&A expenses increased by 10.1% to ¥19,217 million, the company maintained efficient operations with the SG&A ratio only slightly increasing from 4.6% to 4.7%.
The financial charts demonstrate a consistent upward trajectory across all key metrics since FY2021:
Gyomu Super Business Expansion
The core Gyomu Super business, which reflects wholesale sales and royalty fees, continues to drive Kobe Bussan’s growth. The company expanded its store network to 1,112 locations as of July 31, 2025, with net sales for this segment increasing to ¥395,911 million in FY2025 Q3.
As illustrated in the following business segment performance:
The company added a net total of 28 new Gyomu Super stores during the first nine months of FY2025, representing 82.4% progress toward its full-year target of 34 net new stores. The expansion strategy has focused on diversifying the geographic footprint across Japan.
The following chart illustrates the steady growth in store count and regional distribution:
Product shipments to existing stores have consistently exceeded previous year’s levels, supported by recovering customer visits nationwide. This trend is particularly evident in directly managed areas, where year-on-year shipments increased by 104.2% in Q1, 106.8% in Q2, and 106.1% in Q3 of FY2025.
The monthly trends in product shipments demonstrate the consistent performance:
Product Strategy and Competitive Advantages
Kobe Bussan identifies its private label products as a key competitive advantage. The company maintains a significant proportion of private label offerings, with domestic private label products at 10.9% and imported private label products at 23.4% of total sales.
The company showcased several of its unique private label products, including curry with tenderly braised pork (¥408), Chinese soy milk puddings (¥321), and cauliflower rice (¥213), among others:
In a move to enhance food safety and quality assurance, Kobe Bussan implemented voluntary pesticide residue testing for all containers of imported agricultural products starting in late July 2025. This initiative covers hundreds of items and uses advanced testing methods including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Diversification Initiatives
Beyond its core supermarket business, Kobe Bussan continues to develop its restaurant, delicatessen, and renewable energy segments.
The Restaurant & Delicatessen Business, which includes Kobe Cook World Buffet, Premium Karubi, and Chisouna, has shown steady growth. The company noted that its first small-format Kobe Cook World Buffet location, opened in January at Nikke Parktown Kakogawa, has been performing well. Meanwhile, Premium Karubi has implemented menu revisions to address rising purchase costs, and Chisouna has continued its shop expansion.
The performance of this segment is illustrated in the following chart:
The Eco Renewable Energy Business, comprising 19 solar power plants (81.0 MW) and 1 woody biomass power plant (6.2 MW), maintained stable performance in Q3 FY2025, benefiting from an early end to the rainy season and extended hours of sunlight.
Shareholder Returns and Forward Outlook
Kobe Bussan continues to enhance shareholder returns through both dividends and its shareholder benefit program. For FY2024, the company paid annual dividends of ¥23.00 per share, and plans to increase this to ¥26.00 per share for FY2025, continuing its trend of dividend growth.
The following chart illustrates the company’s dividend history and future plans:
Looking ahead, Kobe Bussan maintains its full-year FY2025 forecast with targeted net sales of ¥525,000 million, operating profit of ¥37,700 million, and profit attributable to owners of ¥24,000 million. The company’s Q3 results show it is well-positioned to achieve these targets, having already reached 78.4% of the full-year sales target and 80.5% of the operating profit target.
The company’s strong performance in the first nine months of FY2025, coupled with its continued store expansion and diversification strategy, positions Kobe Bussan for sustained growth as it capitalizes on Japanese consumers’ increasing preference for value-oriented shopping options.
Full presentation:
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