Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Oct 12, 2019
Simple works best for FamilyMart's Earl Grey-themed collab
by Patrick St. Michel
FamilyMart's new lineup of elegant Earl Grey-flavored desserts aim to spruce up your post-lunch snacking.
Business / Corporate Oct 11, 2019
Japan convenience store chain Ministop tests shorter operating hours at franchise outlets
Convenience store operator Ministop Co. is experimenting with shortened service hours at dozens of its franchise shops. Seventy stores have signed up for the trial, which began in September and runs until the end of February. The initiative will be expanded if more stores wish ...
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Sep 21, 2019
Three unique, autumnal takes on the dorayaki pancake
by Haruka Murayama
Although the dorayaki pancake is almost always on convenience store shelves, Lawson, Seven-Eleven and FamilyMart have each rolled out new flavors for the fall.
Business / Corporate Sep 19, 2019
Amazon Japan G.K. on Wednesday started a locker delivery service, Amazon Hub, aimed at enhancing convenience for customers and reducing the need for re-deliveries. The e-commerce giant has installed lockers at FamilyMart Co. convenience stores and other locations for customers to pick up their packages. Amazon ...
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Aug 17, 2019
Cantaloupe frappes and chocolate parfaits to cool the summer
by Patrick St. Michel
Chocolate and fruit-flavored desserts dominate convenience store shelves, at this time of year, so Konbini Watch has collected highlights from both sides for those waffling between flavors.
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Jul 6, 2019
Convenience store stars for July: Cream puffs, doughnuts and iced soda floats
by Patrick St. Michel
Green tea, lemon and Makoto Shinkai's film "Weathering With You"-themed fruit-flavored soda drinks all hit convenience stores shelves this month.
Business Jul 1, 2019
Two of Japan's biggest convenience store chains launch their own mobile payment services
Seven-Eleven Japan Co. and FamilyMart Co. have started their own smartphone payment services. Both major convenience store chains launched their services on Monday. They are expected to further intensify competition among similar services that already involve tech and financial companies. Seven-Eleven Japan President Fumihiko Nagamatsu said ...
National / Media | BIG IN JAPAN Jun 8, 2019
Japan's convenience stores work hard to stay relevant
by Mark Schreiber
Ride the Seibu Shinjuku Line to Iriso Station in the city of Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, and you can enjoy shopping at Japan's oldest franchise convenience store, a Family Mart that opened in September 1973. The following May, the nation's first 7-Eleven outlet was opened ...
Business Jun 6, 2019
Airbnb Inc. says it's back in business in Japan, a year after stricter short-term lodging regulations forced it to freeze a major portion of its listings in the country. There are 50,000 listings available in the country, with another 23,000 rooms in hotels and traditional ...
Business / Corporate | FOCUS May 19, 2019
Royalty feud threatens to tear apart FamilyMart's profitable joint venture in China
by Cindy Wang and Rachel Chang
FamilyMart, the most successful Japanese convenience store chain in China, is embroiled in a royalty payments fight between its Japanese and Chinese joint-venture partners that could change how much money each side makes or scuttle the partnership entirely. FamilyMart UNY Holdings Co. is suing to ...
Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Apr 27, 2019
With convenience store onigiri, the devil's in the seasoning
by Patrick St. Michel
FamilyMart and Lawson are dressing up the humble onigiri (rice ball) with new add-ons and seasonings, upping the ante on the snack's standard flavors.