Employees' Health Management Rated Loan Extended to Fresta

Fresta Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture) operates a chain of food supermarkets, with stores throughout the Chugoku region but primarily in Hiroshima Prefecture. The company has been committed to emphasizing quality since it was founded in 1960. In light of this, the corporate philosophy of Fresta is to be an "honest" corporate group that continues to contribute to the realization of a healthy lifestyle by creating optimal products and services.

Also, in accordance with the Frestown Initiative, a measure which leads the way for the health of city residents, Fresta has hammered out the concept of Healthiest Supermarkets. Through this concept, the company is implementing health management initiatives throughout the region.

Specifically, the supermarket chain operator has released a health declaration policy by which its employees declare their personal health goals to customers, aiming to heighten interest in personal health awareness. Building on these modest independent measures, Fresta is also collaborating, mainly with administrative agencies and local gyms and hospitals, to create various venues and opportunities for health-focused activities. Examples include exercise classes at its stores and the provision of storefront area where mobile health-screening clinics can set up and offer medical examinations.

DBJ is providing financing to Fresta based on the company's rating according to DBJ's proprietary Employees' Health Management Rated Loan Program. Evaluation points include flexibility of workstyle and improvements to productivity, and Fresta achieved the highest rank among companies in the food and beverage retail industry.