As a wholesale distributor of commercial foodstuffs, Asahi Foods Corporation delivers food and beverages to approximately 300 restaurants in Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi, and the Kanto region. The company aims to make deliveries safer and more efficient by utilizing the traffic impact forecasts of Weathernews for business to determine delivery availability and the risk of delays. We interviewed Takuya Kikuchi - san, President of Asahi Foods Corporation, about how the company utilizes the system and its effects on deliveries.
With the year 2024 problem looming, logistics companies need detailed weather information to protect the lives of their drivers.
Asahi Foods, which delivers its own foodstuffs, was at the time feeling a growing sense of crisis over the "2024 problem in logistics," which regulates the working hours of drivers.
Our company is located in Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture. We are located in Hidaka City, Saitama Prefecture, and deliveries to Niigata, Yamanashi, and other distant areas are subject to high weather risks and are often affected by road closures and other problems. The need for in-house drivers to make deliveries to distant areas, which were previously handled by our partner shipping companies, has made not only meeting deadlines but also ensuring employee safety a key management priority," said Kikuchi - san.
When there is a possibility of stormy weather, Asahi Foods forms a special delivery team of two drivers who have been with the company for more than 10 years and are accustomed to truck driving, and they carry out delivery operations with safety as the top priority. Even such experienced drivers have experienced being stranded in the Koshinetsu area during the heavy snowfalls of 2020 and 2021, which was a psychological burden. They used to constantly monitor traffic information on the roads, but since it was mainly visual information from live cameras, the information was fragmented and not sufficiently shared among employees.
「荒天時にYouTubeで『ウェザーニュースLiVE』の気象番組を視聴していて、警戒レベルの表示の意味や非常時の対応、専門家による的確な解説を聞いているうちに、ウェザーニューズ社の情報は単なる天気予報ではなく、命を守る情報だと認識しました。
事前に予測できるのであれば、社員の命を守るために活用しない手はない。そう確信して『ウェザーニュースfor business』の導入を本格的に検討するようになりました」（菊地氏）
Support strategic delivery planning 72 hours in advance and anticipate delivery risks with precise forecasts
Asahi Foods utilizes dedicated weather information 72 hours before stormy weather risks are predicted. While checking the forecast on a computer screen, the company makes advance announcements to suppliers, secures drivers, and establishes a system for cooperation with transportation companies. In addition to selecting drivers according to the weather level, the optimal delivery plan is made according to the ever-changing information, including adjustments to delivery routes and time zones, as well as decisions on whether or not to depart itself, with the final decision being made on the morning of the day of the event.
With the introduction of Weathernews for business, we can make delivery-related decisions without hesitation, referring to traffic impact forecasts, rain and snow radar, wind forecasts, and other information. Orders are usually received by 11:00 a.m. the day before, and we have two days' worth of inventory on hand, but when road conditions make this difficult, we can use the weather information as a basis for a smooth response.
Another purpose of the system is to share information with employees on a single platform and create a system that allows them to make decisions and take action at the same time. Even if employees are in different locations, I think it is important for them to be able to see weather information and understand each other as if it were their own business," says Kikuchi - san.
The various information provided by "Weathernews for business" is used as a pillar to support decision-making and is utilized as a strategic decision-making tool.
Overcoming difficulties to gain peace of mind and trust, and increasing BCP evaluation to become a disaster-resistant company
When a cold wave hit Japan in the winter of 2023-2024, the traffic impact forecasts of "Weathernews for business" showed their true value. At the time, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "precautionary road closures" resulted in partial road closures, but Asahi Foods had the information in advance and was able to make the decision without hesitation to halt deliveries or change to the most appropriate route.
It took a lot of courage to stop deliveries, but we are glad we did. There have been zero accidents or problems with employees. Our customers have also placed their trust in us," says Kikuchi - san.
In addition, this series of responses was in line with the government's Business Continuity Plan (BCP), which led to an external evaluation of the company.
The external advisors highly evaluated our BCP, saying that it is rare that we have achieved BCP operation, including cooperation with partner companies, in the event of stormy weather," said Kikuchi - san.
Adapt to changes in the era of climate change and support the community by delivering relief supplies in case of emergency
As the frequency and severity of disasters are increasing due to the effects of global warming, Asahi Foods aims to foster a corporate culture of "accepting and adapting to change.
We can't stop climate change, but we can enhance our ability to respond flexibly to change. We would like to learn about weather throughout the company, and in the event of an emergency, we would like to cooperate with local public agencies and proactively deliver relief supplies," said Kikuchi - san.
Asahi Foods will continue to promote the use of weather information with the aim of becoming a company that is resilient to disasters.
