Tax hike to heat up race among eateries to keep customers

Japan's restaurant industry, already grappling with labor shortages and rising materials costs, is facing yet another challenge in keeping existing customers and attracting new ones following the latest consumption tax hike.Major restaurant operators have taken various measures out of fear that the tax increase from 8 percent to 10 percent for eat-in food would push customers to choose takeouts to which the 8 percent levy will continue to apply under the two-tiered taxation system from Oct. 1.They will face tougher competition from supermarket and delivery service operators which see the tw…READ FULL ARTICLE