ICA-AP Training Program for Managers of Consumer/Retail Co-ops 2025-2026
2026.03.19
Since 1991, JCCU has organized training programs for managers of consumer cooperatives across Asia, providing them with opportunities to learn directly about the businesses and activities of Japanese consumer co-ops.
From February 2 to 7, 2026, nine managers from food retail co-ops in five Asian countries--Iran, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam--visited Japan to take part in a training program hosted by JCCU, the Co-opdeli Group and Co-op Mirai, and Miyagi Co-op.
Although the program was shortened to one week this year, the well-balanced combination of lectures, site visits, and interactive discussions allowed participants to gain a focused yet in-depth understanding of the business operations and member-driven activities of Japanese consumer co-ops.
At JCCU, participants not only learned about the overall business operations and activities of Japanese consumer co-ops but also gained deeper insight into the development processes and policy framework behind CO·OP Brand Products.
At Miyagi Co-op, participants gained a comprehensive overview of its business operations and also attended lectures on the application of IT and digital transformation, along with retail store management.
The program included visits to a hybrid retail outlet combining a convenience store and a co-op format, a co-op supermarket, and a distribution center, providing valuable firsthand insight into the co-op's diverse store formats and logistics systems.
At the Co-opdeli Group and Co-op Mirai, participants attended lectures on the overview of both store and home delivery operations, along with social and community initiatives.
They also visited retail outlets, where they observed product displays, store layouts, and in-store resource collection and recycling efforts, gaining practical insight into day-to-day operations and sustainability practices.
Throughout the training period, active exchanges of opinions took place among the participants and with representatives of Japanese consumer co-ops, creating a valuable opportunity for mutual understanding and future collaboration.
The participants sought insights to address the challenges faced by their respective co-ops, and at the conclusion of the program, they renewed their commitment to applying what they had learned to the development of cooperatives in their home countries.
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