Seven & I Holdings Co. opened its first drugstore Thursday at an Ito-Yokado supermarket in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture.

The convenience store chain said it aims to set up two more Seven Bi no Gardens at Ito-Yokado Co. outlets in the Tokyo area by yearend, with an eye to opening around 30 each year. "Bi" means "beauty" in Japanese.

"We intend to begin handling pharmaceuticals under our private brands next year," said Toshihide Mizushima, president of Seven Health Care Co., the firm in charge of the new drugstores.

The company is a venture formed in June between Seven & I and Ain Pharmaciez Inc., a major chain of prescription drugstores.

The new Funabashi drugstore also sells cosmetics and nursing care products and offers a wide selection of products targeting women in their 20s and 30s, Seven & I said.

The company entered the drug business in June after the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act was revised to ease restrictions on medicine sales.

Ever since, convenience stores and supermarkets, including Seven & I group firm Seven-Eleven Japan Co., have been selling nonprescription drugs, including aspirin.