Michael Fitzpatrick
Biography
Fueled by processed peas, chips and boiled mince, a young Mersey-reared Fitzpatrick grew a prodigious 6 foot 2 runner-beam frame while never ceasing to wonder at the provenance and often scandalous immorality of the food that sustained it.
Later, escaping London student digs that reeked of huss pie, chilli con carne and boiled cauliflower, he fled to the culinary more demanding and enticing mega kitchen of Tokyo that provided a welcome foil to his under-nourished English years.
A rooky reporter position at a Tokyo newspaper ensured increased investigative opportunities for inroads into the labyrinthine larder of the world’s number two economy.
Michael writes regularly on a number of subjects for the international quality press and divides his time between Tokyo and Europe.
Articles by Michael Fitzpatrick
JAPAN: Retailers cash in on cheap imports
27 August 2010
Japanese exporters may be suffering from the historically high yen, which traded at a record JPY84 to the dollar this week - but for Japanese food importers and retailers it is boom time.
JAPAN: Aeon plans to integrate brands
27 August 2010
According to unconfirmed reports in the Japanese press, Japan's top supermarket operator Aeon Co. is to integrate its three supermarket subsidiaries under the Aeon brand as part of efforts to rebuild its struggling domestic business.
CHINA: Itochu plans expansion in China
25 August 2010
Major Japanese trading company Itochu Corp says it plans to increase investment in the food sector in China under its new medium-term business plan starting next April.
JAPAN: Ito-Yokado in product labelling scandal
25 August 2010
CHINA: Lotte Group to accelerate expansion
20 August 2010
JAPAN: Aeon to expand discount format
15 April 2010
JAPAN: Seven & I, Yahoo establish food data JV
26 March 2010
JAPAN: Wal-Mart's Seiyu looks to revive failing stores
15 March 2010
JAPAN: Tokyo looks to boost domestic consumption
10 March 2010
THAILAND: Danone eyes SE Asia
11 February 2010
JAPAN: FamilyMart looks to China, Vietnam for growth
27 January 2010
CHINA/JAPAN: Tokyo to inspect Chinese food producers
25 January 2010
INSIGHT: Seven & I plans overhaul of c-store network
8 January 2010
CHINA: Lawson to boost store numbers
23 December 2009
CHINA: Seven & I plans “massive” Chinese push
14 December 2009
JAPAN: Former Am/pm owner Rex eyeing supermarket growth
3 December 2009
JAPAN: FamilyMart buys Am/pm
12 November 2009
JAPAN: 7-Eleven franchisees sue over promotion row
30 September 2009
CHINA: 7-Eleven plans 200 convenience stores
17 September 2009
JAPAN: Itochu in talks to buy Am/pm c-stores
25 August 2009
JAPAN: Aeon denies plans to expand in Vietnam, India
21 August 2009
JAPAN: Deflation fears stalk Japanese food industry
20 August 2009
S KOREA: Seoul backs unification of indie retailers
7 August 2009
JAPAN: Lawson targets CO2 reduction
7 August 2009
JAPAN: Seven-Eleven back-tracks on discounting
20 July 2009
JAPAN: Ajinomoto eyes international growth
8 July 2009
JAPAN: Seven & I debuts The Price own label
22 June 2009
JAPAN: Nagatanien invests in production
9 June 2009
JAPAN: Seven & I names president
5 June 2009
