Nanahara Takeshi's guesses and chosen targets were not wrong; after he showed the sketch of Kameda Atsushi, several shops had a vague memory of him. In fact, one of the clerks had a deeper impression because he had talked to him, jokingly asking him to give some suggestions for improvement since he had participated in so many tastings, yet he hadn't patronized their business.
That was indeed a joke. In Japan, supermarkets, cake shops, bread shops, and the like, in an effort to increase turnover and attract popularity, often organize free tastings. They set up a stall at the entrance and offer a tiny amount for customers to sample. Attracting a customer into the store to make a purchase is the best outcome, but even if they don't buy, receiving feedback on the product is acceptable, as it allows the store to make targeted improvements to increase market competitiveness and survival rate.