As the population shrinks in Tokyo's outskirts and stores close down, some businesses are spotting a niche for mobile stores operating from the back of delivery trucks.

The stalls can be a boon for elderly people, who find it hard otherwise to obtain their groceries.

On Tuesday, Yoshiya Corp., a supermarket chain operator in Itabashi Ward, launched a vendor-van service that delivers right to a customer's doorstep. The vehicle stocks about 300 products, from meat and sashimi to candy and fruit. It also holds everyday necessities such as toilet paper and detergent.