August 21, 2006

Japan's Skylark to start using US beef next year

Skylark Co, Japan's largest restaurant chain operator, would start using US beef next year, when it anticipates that demand for American beef to the Japanese market would be growing, the company said Friday (Aug 18).

Kiwamu Yokokawa, chairman and chief executive, said the company may start procurement around March next year, Kyodo News reported.

The company would not be using the beef this year as supplies are still limited.

Yokokawa believes other restaurant chains would follow suit eventually, even though it may not be totally safe.

To stave off worries, its restaurants would point out on its menus the dishes with US beef.

Japan lifted the ban on American beef on Jul 27 this year.

Most of the nation's major supermarkets and restaurant operators have yet to sell or use the beef and a recent survey showed that most are still resistant to the idea of selling American beef.