Strengthening Cooperative Leadership: ICA-AP Training Program for Consumer and Retail Cooperative Managers in Japan

The ICA Committee on Consumer Cooperation for Asia and Pacific (ICA-AP Consumer Committee), in cooperation with the Japanese Consumers’ Co-operative Union (JCCU), held the ICA-AP Training Program for Managers of Consumer/Retail Cooperatives 2025-2026 from 2 to 7 February 2026 in Japan.

 A total of nine cooperative managers from five countries, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, participated in the program. Despite the shorter training period compared with previous years, the program offered an intensive combination of lectures, facility visits, and discussions, providing trainees with practical insights into the operations and management of Japanese consumer cooperatives.

 The training program, being organized regularly since 1991, aims to strengthen managerial capacity among consumer cooperatives in the Asia-Pacific region. The 2026 program was designed to address common challenges faced by participants and their cooperatives, including:

• Responding intensified competition with other domestic and foreign retail companies
• Responding to changing consumer behaviour and digitalization
• Improving store operations, logistics, and inventory management
• Strengthening cooperative values while maintaining business competitiveness
• Utilizing IT and digital transformation to enhance efficiency and member engagement

The trainees demonstrated a high level of motivation and cooperation throughout the program. They were highly engaged in every session, raising detailed and thoughtful questions during lectures and actively contributing to discussions, which added depth and energy to the learning environment.

Program Overview

The program began in Tokyo with an orientation session at the JCCU headquarters, where trainees gained an overview of the Japanese consumer cooperative movement. Lectures on CO-OP Brand Products introduced trainees to product development strategies rooted in member participation, safety, quality, affordability, and sustainability, as well as initiatives contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Following the Tokyo sessions, the trainees traveled to Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, to visit Miyagi Co-op. Lectures covered the cooperative’s business structure, store operations, and its IT and DX CO・OP Project, highlighting how digital tools are being integrated into daily operations. Trainees also learned about Miyagi Co-op’s role in community support and regional development, particularly in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

On-site visits included a FamilyMart + CO-OP convenience store, a large supermarket-format co-op store, and a logistics center, where trainees observed advanced distribution systems, labour-saving technologies, and environmentally conscious logistics practices.

In the latter part of the program, the group visited Co-opdeli Group and Co-op Mirai, one of Japan’s largest consumer cooperative federations. Lectures and discussions focused on store competitiveness, marketing strategies, social activities, and responses to market competition. Trainees also toured a co-op store to observe merchandising, customer service, and store layout practices firsthand.

Key Learnings and Outcomes

 Throughout the program, trainees actively exchanged views during lectures, site visits, and informal discussions. They expressed a strong interest in:

·       The integration of cooperative principles into daily business operations

·       Efficient logistics systems supporting both home delivery and store businesses

·       Product strategies that combine convenience, quality, and social contribution

·       Digital tools that enhance communication among members, staff, and producers

Although the short duration inevitably limited the time available for lectures, site visits, and personal exploration, the program progressed in a consistently positive and friendly atmosphere. Strong connections were formed among trainees, fostering mutual understanding and future collaboration.

The program concluded with a farewell gathering hosted by JCCU, where trainees reflected on their key learnings and reaffirmed their commitment to applying Japanese cooperative practices within their own organizations. Upon completion of the program, all trainees received certificates of completion and pledged to share the knowledge, experiences, and insights gained in Japan with their cooperatives in their home countries, contributing to the sustainable development of the consumer cooperative movement across the Asia-Pacific region.