Reducing Beer Keg Return Costs by Up to 70%. Best Beer Japan Launches 'Keg Collection Service' in Partnership with Yamato Transport.

Best Beer Japan, a distributor of craft beer, has launched a new service for restaurants called 'Keg Collection Service' on its wholesale online site, 'Craft Beer Platform.' This service allows restaurants to return empty kegs smartly on a per-keg basis, compared to the traditional method of shipping multiple kegs at once, significantly reducing the burden and cutting return costs by up to 70%. In partnership with Yamato Transport, the service eliminates the need for preparing shipping labels or bundling kegs, allowing returns from as little as one keg, thereby reducing the daily operational burden on restaurants and supporting store efficiency. The background for this service is the increase in the number of kegs handled by restaurants due to the expansion of the craft beer market. However, there were challenges such as high costs (1,500–2,500 yen per shipment) and the heavy workload of filling out shipping labels. This service offers a low price starting at 693 yen (tax included) per keg and allows returns to over 300 breweries nationwide. To use the service, simply select the pickup date and time on the platform, and the Yamato Transport driver will bring the shipping label. A campaign offering free return shipping will also be held from June 1 to June 30, 2026.