Global consolidation: Asahi targets US$100mn annual cost savings via new procurement arm

By Pearly Neo

- Last updated on GMT

Asahi is hoping to save a minimum of US$100mn annually by consolidating its procurement operations. © Asahi
Asahi is hoping to save a minimum of US$100mn annually by consolidating its procurement operations. © Asahi
Japan brewery giant Asahi is hoping to save a minimum of US$100mn annually by consolidating its procurement operations

Although the Asahi brand is well known in the international beer sector and active in many markets worldwide, many of its procurement functions are currently handled on an individual region or country basis.

The firm believes that this structure is hindering it from achieving maximum efficiency and productivity, and has thus set up the new Asahi Global Procurement organisation based in Singapore, led by newly-minted CEO Tomas Veit.

“The key focus is currently on creating a strong and capable team to provide efficient and effective services,”​ he told us.

“Our newly introduced operating model will also strengthen the partnership with our key strategic suppliers across the world with new focus on initiatives that will help us to expedite sustainability and our risk management agenda globally.”

According to Asahi data, this new establishment is targeted to generate a minimum of US$100mn every year in average in procurement savings, over a five-year period starting from 2024.

‘This will be achieved via the cost savings and improved cost control effect, including the mitigation of potential future cost increases e.g. measures for cost avoidance (via methodologies based on detailed analyses and forecasts of market conditions) and leveraging value enablers (efforts to achieve optimal procurement prices through enhanced cost analysis and negotiation capabilities),”​ stated the firm.

Both cost avoidance and value enablers are measures that will help to curb the impacts of goods and services procured, which would be especially important during price hikes, inflationary pressures, and other similar situations.

Asahi Global Procurement will also be the firm’s first function that has a wholly global focus, which Asahi also views as a step towards more efficient and integrated management.

Asahi as a company has four regional headquarters worldwide in Japan, South East Asia, Oceania and Europe, the third party spend for all of which Asahi Global Procurement will oversee.

When fully functional, this establishment is projected to directly hold and manage over 50% of the overall Asahi Group’s total third party spend; and about 90% of this spend in conjunction with other integrated regional and local procurement teams.

“Asahi Global Procurement is the first functional organization of the Asahi Group to be integrated globally [and] we view this as an initiative to elevate our management to a new level and promote the advancement of overall management,”​ Asahi Group Holdings President and CEO Atsushi Katsuki added.

“We expect the consolidation of category management and sourcing functions on a global scale to not only create group synergies, but also contribute to solving various issues in the global environment and society.

“[This is all crucial to Asahi in] leading to the promotion of sustainable procurement.”

Beyond just procurement

As highlighted by Katsuki, besides its more prominent procurement role the new arm is also expected to drive sustainability targets and other non-financial values for Asahi.

“This will include strengthening collaborations with key strategic suppliers [to] deliver non-financial value [such as] promoting supplier driven innovations, mitigating procurement commodity and non-commodity risks, or addressing sustainability topics,”​ he said.

“Examples of these are sustainable agricultural, climate change or circular economy (with a focus on packaging materials).

“Asahi Global Procurement will also support the growth of Asahi as a whole by developing new capabilities and expertise for our global procurement-related functions and workforce.”

Related news

Show more

Related products

Analyzing the unknown threat from Microplastics

Analyzing the unknown threat from Microplastics

Content provided by Agilent Technologies | 06-Nov-2023 | Infographic

Microplastics are any plastic-derived synthetic solid particle or polymeric matrix, ranging in size from 1 µm to 5 mm and insoluble in water.

Functional Beverage Market Insights in ASPAC

Functional Beverage Market Insights in ASPAC

Content provided by Glanbia Nutritionals | 06-Jul-2023 | Product Brochure

High growth ahead for protein beverages makes Asia Pacific (ASPAC) the market to watch. Consumer research shows new usage occasions, key consumption barriers,...

The latest plant-based beverage trends in SEA

The latest plant-based beverage trends in SEA

Content provided by Tetra Pak | 27-Mar-2023 | White Paper

Data shows that consumers’ liking and thirst for plant-based beverages is growing rapidly, especially in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia....

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars

Food & Beverage Trailblazers