


Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Jan 10, 2021
FamilyMart spices up the classic Famichiki
by Patrick St. Michel
This mala-spiced snack is the perfect tongue-tingling pick-me-up.


Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Dec 12, 2020
Need some pre-holiday indulgence? These chocolate sweets have you covered.
by Patrick St. Michel
There may not be any holiday parties this year, but that just means you have even more reason to put together a festive convenience store smorgasbord.

Business Dec 8, 2020
Toyota and convenience stores to test fuel-cell delivery trucks in Japan
Seven-Eleven Japan, FamilyMart and Lawson will use light-duty trucks with a maximum payload of 3 tons being developed by Toyota and its subsidiary Hino Motors.

Business / Corporate Oct 31, 2020
Ex-head of Don Quijote parent suspected of misconduct over shares
The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission raided related locations in November 2019 and summer this year.

Business / Corporate Oct 22, 2020
FamilyMart shareholders approve Itochu taking convenience store private
FamilyMart Co. shareholders on Thursday approved a plan for trading house Itochu Corp. to take the convenience store operator private as the coronavirus pandemic prompts a strategic rethink on how to compete in a shrinking domestic market and plans for overseas expansion. Following the approval ...

Business / Corporate Sep 3, 2020
Japan's convenience stores are told to stop pushing 24-hour schedules
by Ben Dooley and Hisako Ueno
The firms' business models have been criticized for putting profit ahead of the needs of franchise owners.


Food & Drink | KONBINI WATCH Aug 8, 2020
Add some sparkle to your summer with Sake Tonic
by Patrick St. Michel
The best new sake arrival of the season is FamilyMart's limited-edition Sake Tonic — smooth, citrusy and alarmingly easy to drink.

Business Aug 5, 2020
More Japan convenience store customers skipping plastic bags to save a few yen
Over 70 percent of shoppers at outlets of three major Japanese convenience store operators declined to pay for plastic shopping bags in July, according to data from the companies. Since July 1, all retailers across the country have been obliged to charge for disposable plastic ...

Business / Tech Jul 19, 2020
Japanese robot to clock in at a convenience store in test of retail automation
by Tim Kelly
FamilyMart hopes to have robots working in 20 stores around Tokyo by 2022.