Developing New Formats for Small Shopping Centers and Urban Compact Stores

「We opened 3 new MaxValu Express stores during the interim period, bringing the total to 26 as of the end of August. To support rapid expansion in urban areas, we continued to develop smaller store models, achieve assortments that meet urban customer needs even in small stores, and improve operating efficiency through team-based operations with nearby stores. As a result, interim-period sales reached 125.2% of the year-earlier period.」

「We opened 7 new Express stores during the fiscal year, bringing the number of stores to 23 at fiscal year-end. To enable rapid expansion in urban areas, we are developing store models smaller than the 100–150-tsubo sales floors used for our previous openings.」

「To expand market share in urban areas, we are rolling out MaxValu Express in Fukuoka under the concept of a “convenient compact supermarket nearby.” We opened 4 new stores during the interim period, bringing the number of stores to 20 as of the end of August. During the fiscal year, we worked to develop store models smaller than the 100–150-tsubo sales floors used for our previous openings to enable rapid expansion in urban areas. We are also achieving assortments that meet urban customer needs through product development and shelf layouts unique to small stores, and improving operating efficiency through team-based operations with nearby stores.」

「To expand market share in urban areas, we are rolling out MaxValu Express in Fukuoka under the concept of a “convenient compact supermarket nearby.” We opened 4 stores during the fiscal year, bringing the number of Express business stores to a total of 16 at fiscal year-end.」

「To expand market share in urban areas, we are rolling out MaxValu Express in Fukuoka under the concept of a “convenient compact supermarket nearby.” We opened 2 stores during the interim period, bringing the total number opened since the management integration in September 2020 to 9.」

「To expand market share in urban areas, we are rolling out MaxValu Express in Fukuoka under the concept of a “convenient compact supermarket nearby.” Since fiscal 2021, the number of stores opened in Fukuoka has reached a total of 8. Through initiatives including strengthening the assortment of ready-to-eat and convenient products, such as cut vegetables, frozen foods, and freshly prepared prepared foods, as well as small-pack-size products, and developing products unique to small stores, existing-store sales remained strong at 105.5% of the year-earlier period.」

「In the SM business, we worked to expand market share in Fukuoka by opening 3 new small MaxValu Express supermarkets, among other initiatives.」

「“MaxValu Express Muromi (Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka)”」

「In November, we advanced new initiatives, including opening the new business format GREEN PICNIC on the premises of AEON Itoshima Shopping Center in Itoshima, Fukuoka.」

「In November, we advanced new initiatives, including opening the new business format GREEN PICNIC on the premises of AEON Itoshima Shopping Center in Itoshima, Fukuoka.」

「Also in April, we opened the small AEON Sasebo Yonkacho store in Sasebo, Nagasaki, selling apparel and other products.」

「Strengthening the food business (SM transformation): promoting the development of original products and opening urban small stores and discount stores」

「As a new store, we opened MaxValu Express Nishijin in April in Sawara-ku, Fukuoka. In line with the trading-area characteristics, which include many single-person and small households, we expanded the assortment of prepared foods, freshly baked bread, time-saving and convenient products, and small-pack-size products.」

「At Wide Mart Drug & Food stores, demand became particularly strong in densely populated urban areas for convenient shopping that could be completed “safely,” “at a nearby store,” and “in a short time.” We therefore worked to prevent infectious diseases and meet this demand, resulting in sales rising substantially to 112.3% of the year-earlier period.」

「As an experiment in a new urban small-store model, the Strategic Small-Store Business opened Niko Kitchen in Fukuoka, featuring freshly baked bread and freshly prepared prepared foods under the concept of “a second kitchen supporting the dining table.”」

「The Strategic Small-Store Business Division is working to develop a new urban small-store model by examining product assortments and store operations. In May, it opened Niko Kitchen Ropponmatsu in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, a new small store supporting working women with sections for freshly baked bread and freshly prepared prepared foods.」

「Centered on the New Business Format Development Project, we will develop shopping centers smaller than conventional GMS stores and new small-store formats for urban areas.」

「As a new store opening, we opened AEON Otogane SC in July as a shopping center with a new concept, including a park, collaboration with a company providing parenting-sharing services, and the opening of an on-site childcare facility.」

「As part of the organizational reforms in March, we established the New Business Format Development Project and are developing new formats to respond to changes in society.」

「Centered on the newly established New Business Format Development Project, we will develop shopping centers smaller than conventional GMS stores and new small-store formats for urban areas.」