“What is Premium American Pork?” was a unique event at the Oriental Hotel Tokyo Bay because it featured 100 consumers invited through hotel advertising and via the US Meat Exporter Federation’s (USMEF) Japan website, some of whom were tasting premium-branded US pork for the first time. They were joined by representatives of a leading Japanese importer, who were able to hear the reactions of Japanese consumers firsthand.

“I clearly understood the tastiness of US branded pork today compared to domestic pork,” said one consumer after sampling both side-by-side.

The taste test was coordinated by chef Murayama, executive chef at the Oriental Hotel. Murayama, who has developed a strong appreciation for chilled private brand US pork, took the occasion to highlight his hotel’s special menu promotion featuring US pork. As the sampling progressed, it was apparent that his taste was shared by the participating consumers.

“I have heard of this (US branded pork), but I thought it was domestic,” said another consumer. “I’d like to buy it for its high quality.”

One consumer commented after hearing the USMEF presentation that she “understood that US pork is reasonably priced because of lower feed prices in the US and that US producers are very careful and strict about safety and quality control.”

“These comments were very refreshing because there usually is a clear preference for domestic products,” said Takemichi Yamashoji, USMEF-Japan senior marketing director. “Most consumers in Japan do not know that US pork has different brands, so reaching them – and having a major importer and distributor hear those comments – is beneficial.”

The Oriental Hotel event is the latest in a year-long USMEF initiative to enhance awareness and perceptions of US chilled pork in Japan. Support for the event was provided through funding from the Pork Checkoff.

USMEF’s Yamashoji provided the audience with an overview of the attributes of US pork (tastiness, juiciness, nutrition, safety and availability) and discussed the growing number of brands of chilled US pork.

“Japan is not a commodity market,” said Yamashoji. “It is a high-value market. There are more than 250 Japanese private pork brands.”

To help break through some of the brand clutter, USMEF-Japan recently initiated an online campaign to invite consumers to vote for their favorite brand of US chilled pork. The campaign is off to a fast start – drawing more than 10,000 voters in the first two weeks. Each of 200 lucky winners selected in a drawing at the end of the six-week promotion will receive 500 g of US branded pork.

Other elements of the USMEF chilled branded pork campaign include promotions at retail and foodservice, as well as bringing visiting teams of Japanese pork importers to the United States to visit production facilities and farms. The Oriental Hotel event is one of a series of partnerships USMEF has developed with high-end hotels to feature US pork on their menus and elevate the product’s image to encourage usage in other foodservice settings.

At the conclusion of the Oriental Hotel event, USMEF surveyed the participants. Prior to the event, 90 per cent of the consumers did not know that US pork was available in more than one brand. By the end of the day, 92 per cent expressed their desire to purchase US branded pork products.

Japan continues to be the highest value market for US pork exports. Through the first nine months of 2011, US pork exports to Japan stand at 367,042 metric tons (809.2 million pounds) valued at $1.4 billion, increases of 14 per cent in volume and 18 per cent in value over 2010. Japan accounts for 22.6 per cent of the volume and 33 per cent of the value of all US pork exports this year.