JA Izumo, an agricultural cooperative in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, has changed two of its nine outlets into so-called 100 yen shops, in which a wide range of merchandise all costs 100 yen, an official said Thursday.
La Rosa Oyama, one of the two outlets located in Izumo, opened for business June 14 and drew more than 1,500 shoppers, said Masato Shinto, the JA Izumo official responsible for transforming the outlets.
"There were few people to be seen in the shop before the transformation," due to strong competition from a large supermarket nearby, he said.
The 330-sq.-meter shop sells some 10,000 items, including fresh vegetables supplied by local JA Izumo farmers, fish, meat, stationery and kitchen utensils. All sell for 100 yen each or per package.
About one-third of the items are supplied by Daiso Industries Co., a nationwide 100 yen shop operator headquartered in Hiroshima.
The new business will help JA Izumo reduce the deficit from its co-ops, Shinto said.