Amidst the hustle-bustle of the Japanese food industry, restaurant chains are increasingly relying on outsourcing their meal preparations or "surrogate meal prep". This trend has led to significant business growth in the 'meal prep outsourcing' sector. This growth is driven by factors such as reducing workload, ensuring quality, and grappling with staff shortages.

In Japan, food is not only a necessity but also a cornerstone of the culture, with a high emphasis on quality and presentation. The shift to outsourced meal preparations displays the practical approach of Japanese businesses to maintain these standards while addressing labor concerns. However, there is also worry about the potential loss of artisanal and traditional cooking techniques.

In contrast to the US or EU, where meal prep outsourcing is more commonly seen with fast food and large chain restaurants, in Japan, it is becoming prevalent even among smaller restaurants and traditional dining establishments. This difference is mostly due to practices in preserving quality and tackling labor shortages.