Episode 15

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Published on:

26th Sep 2022

Coming to Japan on business? Start studying now! Insights with Greg Cross from Freshco NZ

If you are coming back to Japan on business in the near future, you will want to study up on what to do, who to talk to and how to act. Greg Cross has many years of experience representing New Zealand fresh produce in Japan and shares his takeaways from his recent visit to Japan. Check out our other episodes for loads of great information about preparing well before you come to Japan on business. 

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In this episode you’ll hear:

  • How Greg came to be working in the horticulture industry and connected to Japan
  • The 30-year long relationship between NZ squash and Japan that has now extended into apples
  • The market in Japan for fresh food and how it differs from New Zealand
  • Some stories about the massive scale of the Japanese market
  • Greg’s innovative top tips for success in market 

About Greg

Greg was born and raised in West Auckland. After visiting Japan as a high school student, Greg entered the horticulture industry, working for Wrightson Horticulture Auckland followed by Itochu Corporation. From 2015 to 2021 Greg was Marketing Manager for Freshco NZ Asia based in Japan and currently, the General Manager of Sales & Marketing for Freshco NZ Ltd. Greg is married to Hiroko who he met in Gisborne and has three children.

Connect with Greg

Website: http://www.freshco.co.nz/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-cross-77774953/ 

Connect with Jayne and Catherine

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jandals-in-japan-podcast/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandalsinjapan/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jandalsinjapan 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwdbd0QSHSLlOSPcpceHOcA 

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About the Podcast

Jandals in Japan
Bringing The Land of the Long White Cloud to The Land of the Rising Sun
The best show about New Zealanders doing business in Japan, bringing The Land of the Long White Cloud to The Land of the Rising Sun
How do you build a brand in Japan and nurture a loyal customer base?
What do you need to have in your tool belt if you are thinking of coming to Japan to launch a business here?
Japan is often considered to be in the "too hard" basket but we are here to open up the black box of doing business in Japan.
We will share stories from successful Kiwis selling their products and services here in Japan.
They'll tell you their tips for success and pitfalls to avoid.
They'll share their challenges and what they did to overcome them.
They will tell you things you can't find in textbooks or on the internet.
We will also be sharing the latest intel and insights on Japan from our on-the-ground presence
And you'll hear some super business culture and other tips from us sprinkled throughout.
Grab a glass of sake and let's get into it.
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About your hosts

Jayne Nakata

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Jayne Nakata is a Southland girl who arrived in Japan in 2002, planning to stay just two years. 20 years later she is still living in Fukushima Prefecture with her Japanese husband and two children. When the triple disaster hit in 2011, Jayne made the commitment to stay in Fukushima and contribute to rebuilding the area. She is the host of the award winning podcast Transformations with Jayne, which is a favourite with international women living in Japan. She is also the double award winning podcast producer and manager for PodLaunch with Jayne.

Catherine O’Connell

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Originally from Christchurch, Catherine O'Connell has lived in Japan since 2002. Catherine has over 20 years working at brand-name Japanese corporations as legal counsel. In 2018, Catherine launched her own boutique law firm in Tokyo, which has become become a multi-award-winning business. She is Vice Chair of the Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Audit & Supervisory Board Member at TOYOTA Motor Corporation & FUJITSU Limited. As well as the Jandals in Japan Podcast, she hosts the award-winning Lawyer on Air Podcast.