Business / Corporate Jul 8, 2020
Itochu planning ¥600 billion bid for Japan’s FamilyMart chain
Trading companies have been increasing their stakes in the country’s biggest convenience store operators as a way to diversify business.
National / Reference | FYI Jul 1, 2020
Japan's new plastic bag charge: What it means for consumers and the environment
by Eric Johnston
The new rule is aimed at reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in the country’s rivers, forests, streams and, ultimately, surrounding oceans.
National Jun 30, 2020
All Japanese stores to charge shoppers for plastic bags from Wednesday
The measure is designed to protect the environment, but plastic shopping bags account for only around 2 percent of all plastic waste produced in the country.
Business / Corporate Jun 25, 2020
Lawson to kick off self-checkout reward campaign to curb virus spread
by Dina Kartit
As the coronavirus continues to spread, the convenience store chain is aiming to reduce face-to-face contact between staff and customers.
Business Jun 22, 2020
Convenience store sales in May fell 10 percent from a year earlier, marking a third month of decline, affected by stay-at-home requests issued across Japan following the emergence of the coronavirus, an industry body said Monday. But the difficult business environment appears to have not ...
National / Media | Japan Pulse Jun 20, 2020
Lawson finds itself lampooned for rebranding design effort
by Patrick St. Michel
Most complaints have centered around the minimal information that is included on the packaging.
Business / Corporate Jun 8, 2020
Seven-Eleven to sell life insurance at its convenience stores
Seven-Eleven Japan Co. said Monday it will start selling life insurance at its over 20,000 outlets nationwide, the first such case at a convenience store, as the need for contactless sales grow due to the new coronavirus pandemic. Japan's largest convenience store chain will start ...
Business Jun 4, 2020
Convenience stores in Japan to charge for plastic bags from July
Three major convenience store operators will charge customers ¥3 for each plastic shopping bag at all domestic outlets from July 1, it was learned Thursday. This comes in line with the government's plan to oblige retailers across the country to charge fees for plastic bags ...
Business Jun 2, 2020
JR East to open 100 unmanned convenience stores in next four years
East Japan Railway Co. will accelerate plans to open 100 unmanned convenience stores within the next four years, sources close to the matter said Tuesday, as it takes advantage of the need to reduce human contact amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company's first unmanned convenience ...
Business / Corporate May 20, 2020
Japan's April convenience store sales log record drop amid pandemic
The number of customers plunged for a second straight month to 1.13 billion, down 18.4 percent from a year earlier.
Business Apr 21, 2020
Japan's convenience store owners face tough choices in pandemic
Amid the coronavirus epidemic in Japan, franchise owners of convenience stores are torn between worrying about infection risks from continuing operations and a sense of mission about serving as part of infrastructure for daily life. "I will continue as much as possible, if it's helpful ...
Corporate Apr 20, 2020
Sales at convenience stores across Japan fell 5.8 percent in March from a year earlier as people refrained from going outside amid the coronavirus outbreak, an industry group said Monday. Same-store sales of seven major convenience store operators totaled ¥833.90 billion, marking the first decline ...