Japan news

As Seven & I, AEON, Lawson and FamilyMart announce their first half results, we assess their performance in the year so far and look ahead at strategies to win for the full year and beyond. Tough conditions, cautious optimism for full year All Japanese grocery players faced tough trading conditions in their domestic in the first half of the year, hit by the increase in consumption tax, p...

Costco delivered an impressive performance in the final quarter of the year. Total revenue increased 9.3%, comp store sales were up 7% and net income rose 13.0%. As the retailer focuses on its new financial year, we take a look at what’s shaping its strategy. Increasing capital expenditure Over the last two years Costco has picked up the pace of new store openings, with...

As Lawson announces H1 results, we round up the latest news from this key Japanese convenience operator. Income strong, but sales decline in H1 In this highly competitive convenience market, Lawson reported a weak sales performance for the first half of the year: consolidated total operating revenue declined 2.5% to JPY 242bn. Meanwhile, operating income saw robust growth of 12.3% to JP...

Japanese retailer Seven & Holdings I reported group sales up 7% to JPY 5tn whilst operating income grew at 1.6% to JPY 167bn in the first half, maintaining its sales and profit forecasts for the full year.  Product innovation contributes to 7-Eleven Inc.'s positive results US based 7-Eleven Inc. reported sales of JPY 1.4tn, up 7.7%. Excluding fuel, same store sales grew 1.6%, in line wi...

Japan's FamilyMart has announced new plans to open convenience stores in the Philippines at a faster rate than previously disclosed. 700-800 stores by 2018 FamilyMart opened its first Filipino c-store in Manila in April 2013, with the retailer announcing in July 2014 that it would target 300 stores within the next five years and 1,000 within the next decade. However, having revealed details...

AEON is to fully acquire the remaining shares in Daiei to make the retailer a wholly-owned subsidiary in 2015. Latest in a series of turnaround measures AEON already owns a 44.15% stake in Daiei. The transaction will see Daiei delisted from the Tokyo stock exchange on 26 December, prior to its becoming a full part of AEON. The Daiei business has been struggling for some years and AEON had a...

We bring together the latest store, service, product and promotional news from 7-11 in Asia Pacific & America Diverging strategy across markets South Korea - 7-Eleven is trialling the sale of flowers and plants. Initially, 20 products are available , chosen for their air purification properties; the strategy is driven by shoppers’ increased concerns over respiratory diseases Austr...

Seiyu, Walmart's local operator in Japan, plans to expand the number of products it sells online fivefold by 2017, the Nikkei Asian Review reports. Online distribution developments supporting expansion The strategy will see the numbers of SKUs available via its online platform seiyu.co.jp rise to 100,000 over a three year period. These additional items will be focused in categories such as ...

How will AEON's plans for day care and Lawson's cinema acquisition boost the retailers' grocery businesses? Childcare has strong synergy with AEON's portfolio; may unlock new site locations AEON plans to open child day care in its Japanese stores, the Nikkei reports. The service will first be introduced in a store in the greater Tokyo area in spring next year, to be rolled out to a furt...

As competition in Japan's highly developed convenience market increases, retailers are launching new outlets aimed at delivering differentiation and attracting new customers. FamilyMart launches karaoke stores FamilyMart has partnered up with Daiichikosho Co. karaoke to launch three stores that feature karaoke facilities. The latest store of this type to launch in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture,...