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Richa Naidu
For Richa Naidu's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
A toy gun is assembled at an Aequs toy manufacturing facility in the city of Belgaum in India.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 16, 2024
Infrastructure hurdles hinder toy manufacturers' shift from China
That other countries struggle to match China for efficiency is limiting firms' efforts to shift to lower cost bases and raising the risk of higher toy prices in the future.
A Walmart worker organizes products for the Christmas season in 2016.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 30, 2023
Walmart shifts to India and reduces imports from China
The shift shows how the rising cost of importing from China and escalating political tensions are pushing U.S. firms to import more from other countries.
A joint study by consultant McKinsey and data firm NielsenIQ earlier this year found that 78% of U.S. consumers say a sustainable lifestyle is important to them.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Sep 8, 2023
Shoppers say they want sustainable goods, but won't pay more
When push comes to shove, manufacturers sometimes find consumers aren't buying their sustainable products.
A view of a Nestle, La Laitiere product cover in a supermarket in Paris. The video of Nestle's version of Baroque artist Johannes Vermeer's oil painting The Milkmaid generated sigificant "media value" for the Swiss food giant.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 21, 2023
From 'Mad Men' to machines? Big advertisers shift to AI
Many companies remain wary of security and copyright risks, however, meaning humans will remain part of the process for the foreseeable future.
An office of OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, in San Francisco. The firm recently assured corporate partners that their data would not be used to train the chatbot further.
BUSINESS
Aug 12, 2023
ChatGPT fever spreads to U.S. workplace, sounding alarm for some
Some 28% of respondents to an online poll on artificial intelligence said they regularly use ChatGPT at work.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 28, 2023
Sudan conflict threatens supply of key soft drink ingredient
About 70% of the world's supply of gum arabic, for which there are few substitutes, comes from the acacia trees in the Sahel region that runs through Sudan.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 28, 2022
In Britain's inflation crisis, healthy diets are a casualty
Fresh vegetables and fish are falling off the menu. Packaged pizzas and processed meat are the dishes of the day.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 27, 2022
From burgers to gadgets, stressed consumers buy cheap
Investors are closely watching second quarter corporate results for signs economies are headed toward recession.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
May 12, 2022
Beyond cigarettes: Philip Morris lights up race with Swedish Match bid
Tobacco companies have scrambled over the past decade to find new markets as regulators crack down on cigarettes and more people quit smoking due to the health risks.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 19, 2022
Western companies wrestle with Russia 'half-exits'
About 80 Western companies, mostly consumer and pharmaceutical companies that argue that pulling out would significantly harm the Russian population, have retained a presence in Russia.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 24, 2019
Diaper rush: Conquering a $9 billion incontinence market no one wants to talk about
The time may not be far off when more adults need diapers than babies as the population grows older, potentially a huge opportunity for manufacturers of incontinence products — if they can lift the stigma that has long constrained sales.

Longform

High-end tourism is becoming more about the kinds of experiences that Japan's lesser-known places can provide.
Can Japan lure the jet-set class off the beaten path?