Survey of 1,400 Restaurants: Over 60% Report Fuel and Packaging Material Costs Rising by More Than 10%

The Japan Food Service Organizations Federation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hirohisa Sato; hereinafter "Shokudanren") conducted a nationwide survey titled "Survey on the Actual Conditions of Rising Fuel and Packaging Material Prices" in April 2026, targeting 1,448 restaurant owners and managers.

Survey Report (Food Industry Fuel and Packaging Materials Questionnaire Report.pdf)

The results revealed that 64% of valid responses reported cost increases of 10% or more for fuel and packaging materials. Furthermore, 7% of respondents reported cost increases exceeding 30%, reaching a critical level that threatens business continuity. Additionally, only 39% of businesses have received price increase notifications from suppliers. Alarmingly, 35% of respondents stated they do not know the manufacturers of their packaging materials, highlighting how information gaps are impeding effective management decisions.

※ Please refer to the following for survey details.

【Survey Overview】

Survey Title: Survey on the Actual Conditions of Rising Fuel and Packaging Material Prices in the Restaurant Industry

Conducted by: Japan Food Service Organizations Federation (Shokudanren)

Survey Period: April 2026 (Collection period: April 1 – April 17)

Valid Responses: 1,448

Target Respondents: Restaurant owners and managers nationwide

Survey Method: Online survey (distributed to Shokudanren members and affiliated organizations)

Respondent Store Scale: Single store: 612 responses, 2–9 stores: 609 responses, 10–49 stores: 188 responses, 50–99 stores: 18 responses, 100+ stores: 21 responses

【Detailed Findings】

Background of the Survey

Rising costs of fuel and packaging materials, driven by unstable global conditions and yen depreciation, are fundamentally undermining restaurant operations. Shokudanren conducted this survey to quantitatively assess the impact and to develop policy recommendations and industry support systems.

Key Survey Results

Cost Increase Reality

Of the 1,448 valid responses, 929 (64%) reported cost increases of over 10% for fuel and packaging materials. In the restaurant industry, where profit margins are typically low, such increases directly translate into significant profit deterioration.

Supply Chain Opacity

35% of respondents stated they do not know the manufacturers of their packaging materials, indicating insufficient supply chain visibility and making it difficult to respond to price fluctuations.

Voices from the Frontlines

Text mining of 774 open-ended responses revealed numerous calls for "subsidies and financial support" and highlighted the emotional distress and mental strain experienced by business operators.

Future Outlook and Recommendations

Shokudanren will consider future actions based on these results. As an industry association, it will strengthen the provision of operational support know-how to small-scale restaurants and promote initiatives to enhance the sustainability of the entire food service industry.

Organization Overview

The Japan Food Service Organizations Federation is a coalition of food industry organizations, study groups, and companies, including restaurants and specialty food businesses. Its mission is to preserve Japanese food culture for future generations, promote the development of the food industry, and elevate the social status of food industry workers.

Organization Name: Japan Food Service Organizations Federation Representative: Representative Director Hirohisa Sato Membership: 69 member organizations/companies and 85 official partners (as of June 2026) Activities: Policy advocacy, industry digital transformation (DX) support, data utilization promotion, promotion of Japanese dining culture, and more Headquarters: 11th Floor, Hibiya Mitsui Tower, 1-1-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (within Gurunavi Inc.) URL: https://shokudanren.jp/ Shokudanren Dashboard: https://shokudanren.jp/subcommittee/digital/location-based-management-data