US Beef Coming to Wal-Mart Owned Seiyu Supermarkets

March 27, 2007
By Ken Worsley

In a small announcement on its website yesterday, Seiyu announced that it is set to begin selling US beef at about 20 of its shops in the Kanto area (the area including Tokyo and its surroundings).

Japan originally banned American beef imports in December 2003 , after the first case of mad cow disease in the US was discovered. The ban was lifted in December 2005, but was reimposed a later, after prohibited spinal bones were found in a shipment of veal.

Seiyu has since followed up with a press release in English, giving details concerning which beef products will be sold, and which shops they will be sold at.

US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer is quoted in the press release as saying:

I’m very pleased to help Seiyu celebrate their new promotion of US beef. We have worked very hard to make sure that safe US beef is available once again to Japanese consumers. US beef is not only safe, but it tastes really good, and I think Seiyu’s customer’s will find that it is a great buy.

Items to be sold include US beef chuck for steak (298 yen per 100 grams), thin sliced US beef chuck (498 yen per 200 grams) and sliced US beef chuck for barbecue (680 yen per 200 grams).

Yes, you’ll be able to get US beef at Seiyu-owned Food Magazine in Roppongi Hills.

Filed Under Export & Import, Retail