Episode 51

full
Published on:

22nd Apr 2024

Peeling back the layers of the fresh produce market in Japan with Jessica Tisch

Jessica Tisch, Japan Country Manager for Freshco, joins us to share the lay of the land in the fresh produce sector in Japan. We traverse the topics of the “biggest lake in Japan”, Lake Biwa to candid conversations with Kansai taxi drivers. In this episode, we “peel back the layers” of this market in Japan. As the Country Manager in Japan, Jess shares how she is navigating the intricacies of the Japanese produce market.

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In this episode you’ll hear:

  • Jessica’s journey from a curious student of Japanese to leading Freshco in Japan as Country Manager
  • The nuances of Japanese consumer behavior around fresh produce
  • Jessica’s mission to revolutionise Japan's apple consumption habits 
  • The NZ and Japan collaborations helping to innovate processes through kaizen and help maintain the future fresh food supply
  • Her invaluable advice for women looking to break into the Japanese market

About Jessica Tisch

Jessica Tisch is Country Manager – Japan for Freshco.  Freshco are a fully integrated produce company based in Auckland who specialises in apples, squash (kabocha) and cherries).  

Prior to Jess starting in the role a year ago, she spent five years working for NZTE; the latter 3.5 years based in Tokyo, as a Business Development Manager. 

Jess’ commercial background is in the meat industry, in supply chain management roles; she’s a Chartered Accountant and was a JET participant based in Shimane. 

Jess is very passionate about supporting the growth of NZ companies in Japan and has an Instagram page (link below) where she highlights NZ products she finds in Japan.

Connect with Jessica

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

Links

Freshco: https://www.freshco.co.nz/

Jandals in Japan is brought to you by Catherine O’Connell Law and PodLaunch with Jayne

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/@jandalsinjapan 

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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.