MAKUHARI, Chiba Pref. -- Unveiling Carrefour's first Japanese outlet to reporters Thursday, Carrefour France Chairman Daniel Bernard said the world's second-largest retailer has a good opportunity to do business in Japan, at a time when the domestic retail industry is changing.
Although major Japanese supermarket chains are experiencing diminishing sales, Bernard said he is confident that his hypermarket will attract Japanese consumers, who are becoming more sensitive to the value of products, by offering competitive prices and a new store atmosphere.
But he also said that Carrefour needs to make further efforts to gain ground in Japan than it had to do in other Asian nations, including China, South Korea and Taiwan.
"Japan has a developed distribution system and many powerful competitors, but we manage stores so that they can meet local needs," Bernard said in French.