Supermarket giant Aeon Co. said Wednesday it will slash prices on 5,100 items at its 2,000 stores nationwide as a retailing price war continues to escalate amid the recession.
Aeon's announcement comes on the heels of a similar one by rival Ito-Yokado Co., which said it would offer discounts on 2,600 items beginning Wednesday. Seiyu Ltd. slashed prices on 1,800 items, including processed food and confectionery products, earlier this month.
Aeon said it will cut prices on 1,700 items sold under its lower-priced Topvalu line, a private brand, starting Wednesday and 3,400 other items Friday.
Aeon has cut prices several times in recent months, but President Motoya Okada told reporters the chain is still playing catchup.