XMart

XMart Inc., founded in July 2018, is a Tokyo-based company focused on the digital transformation of the food distribution industry. The firm was established with the vision of creating a marketplace for food that generates new value. The company's president is Yoshifumi Terada, who previously worked at CyberAgent, Inc., where he was involved in launching alliance businesses and a Facebook commerce venture. His interest in the food distribution sector stems from a personal connection, as his grandfather ran a bottle manufacturer in Tokyo.

XMart's primary offering is XOrder, an order and supply platform that connects restaurants and wholesale suppliers. The platform aims to solve inefficiencies in an industry where ordering is traditionally done by phone or fax. XOrder allows restaurants to place and manage orders from multiple suppliers anytime via the popular messaging app LINE. For wholesalers, it digitizes the process, reducing paper-based work and allowing order data to be downloaded in a CSV format for easy integration with core systems. The service also includes features for sales promotion, enabling wholesalers to advertise special or recommended products directly to restaurants. The system can also convert handwritten faxes into digital data using Fax-OCR technology, accommodating users who prefer traditional methods while still streamlining the process for the supplier.

The company operates in the Japanese food service industry, targeting both restaurants and the wholesalers that supply them with everything from fresh produce to other ingredients. Initially focusing on fresh produce, XMart has expanded to cover other food categories. The business model aims to become an essential infrastructure for the foodservice industry, improving efficiency and reducing costs for both parties. As of November 2024, the platform had over 100,000 active restaurant users. The company has successfully raised $7.74M in funding over three rounds, with its latest Series B round in January 2023. Key investors include Emellience Partners, Tokyo Century, Giftee, Mizuho Capital, SMBC Venture Capital, and SBI Investment.

Keywords: food distribution, B2B ordering platform, foodservice DX, restaurant supply chain, wholesale food ordering, XOrder, Yoshifumi Terada, food tech, digital transformation, supply chain management, restaurant procurement, order management system, LINE integration, Fax-OCR, Japanese food industry, B2B marketplace, sales promotion platform