Osaka Marketplace opens in Foster City

“We’ve been busy, but luckily, this one already had a lot of the set-up [that we need],” Kazuhiro Takeda, owner and founder of Osaka Marketplace, said. 

Takeda said he plans to take lessons learned from the Fremont store, which has increased its grab-and-go dish selection, including bento boxes, sashimi and sushi, to accommodate growing customer demand. He’s also seen a rise in demand for Japanese condiments, like certain kinds of soy sauce or miso.

Before opening Osaka Marketplace just a few years ago, Takeda worked for various retail and food giants in Japan, helping them grow their own businesses. His most recent position before deciding to start his own venture was for Don Quijote, a Japanese retail and grocery chain with locations from Hawaii to Hong Kong and Singapore. From there, he started pop-up stores selling Japanese food such as sushi before starting Osaka Marketplace. While there are a handful of Japanese grocers in the Bay Area, he said he felt confident that, from his experience working for retailers in Japan, he could secure even more high-quality goods.

In addition to condiments and grab-and-go items, the full-service grocery store also sells a variety of produce, meat and fresh fish. 

“A lot of people are really excited to have this,” Crystal Tilton, CEO of the Foster City Chamber of Commerce, said. 

The grocery store is hosting a ribbon-cutting event Friday.