Japan news

Lawson has partnered Muji in Japan, according to Nikkei Asian Review. In the Philippines, Lawson has partnered Grab to offer on-demand grocery delivery. Sales and brand development The partnership will see Muji products sold at Lawson stores in Japan. This will be introduced to a small number of stores to test demand. Should it be rolled out to Lawson’s wider network, Muji items could be ma...

Aeon has been introducing its Everywhere Cash Register Regi Go service at some of its stores in Japan. The solution was launched in February, allowing shoppers to checkout more efficiently.   Available at 20 stores Currently, around 20 stores across AEON and AEON STYLE banners in Tokyo, Chiba and Kanagawa have made the service available. An increasing number of customers are seeking faster ...

Central Retail Corporation Plc (CRC) has acquired the remaining 49% share for FamilyMart from its Japanese partner, making it the sole owner in Thailand. The date of share purchase agreement and transfer was on May 27. FamilyMart has released a further notice  today .  New business model in place CRC has partnered with Japan FamilyMart Co (JFM) since 2012. Over the last eight years, it has ...

FamilyMart in Japan has announced that 787 of its stores will officially implement shorter business hours beginning June 1. Adjusting trading hours due to labour shortages Of the FamilyMart stores that have adjusted trading hours, about 70% operate on a truncated schedule every day, while the remaining have only shortened business hours on Sundays. For the reasons to adjusting trading hours...

Rakuten has published its results for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Group revenue was up 18.2% to JPY331,443m (US$2.9bn) compared with the same period last year. Internet Services revenue up 12.8% Year-on-year revenue from Internet Services, Rakuten’s core business including ecommerce and travel booking services, increased 12.8% to JPY190,678m (US$1.7bn). Services such as the In...

Japan's four largest retailers, Seven & i Holdings, AEON, FamilyMart and Lawson, have posted their annual results for the fiscal year ending 29 February 2020. Summary and our view Performance of the big four in 2019 was varied. Lawson is showing the fastest growth, 7&i remains solid, FamilyMart is recovering and AEON saw mixed results. The Japanese convenience landscape is undergoing maj...

Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, declared a month-long state of emergency on 7 April in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The government has also approved a record stimulus package worth JPY108 tn (US$990 bn) to support the economy State of emergency until 6 May Abe told a televised news conference, “We are not at a stage where rapid nationwide spread is being observed, b...

Family Mart Japan has launched a premade donburi (rice bowl) that is suitable for vegans. Vegan hamburger steak rice bowls The Veggie Burg-don, which costs JPY498 (US$4.85) uses no meat, egg, honey, dairy, or any other animal products. The patty is made of soybeans and roast onion and the rice bowl also comes with sides of stewed carrots, roasted kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) and bell pepper. ...

Rakuten has published its results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, with Group revenue up 14.7% to JPY1,263.9bn (US$11.7bn) year-on-year (yoy). Internet Services revenue up 17.1% Revenue from Internet Services, Rakuten’s core business including ecommerce and travel booking services, increased 17.1% to JPY792.5bn (US$7.3bn) yoy. Segment profit fell by 15.8% to JPY90.7bn (US$842.6m...

AEON will start charging for plastic shopping bags at all of its supermarkets from April 1. Plastic bag fees in Japan mandatory from July From April 1, about 7,300 of the AEON’s 11,000 retail outlets will start charging for plastic bags. It will charge JPY2 (2 cents) to JPY5 yen per bag. The retailer has been charging for plastic bags at some of its supermarkets since 2007.  Plastic bag ...