Lawson Inc. will put products from scandal-tainted confectioner Fujiya Co. back on its shelves Tuesday, according to sources at the convenience store chain.
Lawson, with a network of 8,400 outlets, will become the first of the nation's major convenience store and supermarket chains to resume sales of Fujiya products. The baked goods and candy were pulled in mid-January after the company was caught using ingredients past their best-by dates.
The decision came after Fujiya President Yasufumi Sakurai had a meeting Tuesday with Lawson to explain the company's hygienic condition control method, adopted from the United States with the help of its new corporate ally, Yamazaki Banking Co. Lawson also inspected Fujiya factories Wednesday, they said.
FamilyMart Co. has finished its own checks of three Fujiya confectionery factories, other sources said.
FamilyMart is expected to decide shortly when it will start selling Fujiya products again.