No. 1 Contributor to Local Communities

「As part of our community contribution activities, we continued the Aeon Happiness Yellow Receipt Campaign, a donation initiative supporting local volunteer organizations. The receipt-deposit rate through the end of August was higher than in the year-earlier period, indicating that customer support is expanding.」

「We have issued 11 types of local WAON cards in Hokkaido, with a portion of spending used to support the revitalisation of each local government area. As of the end of February 2026, cumulative donations through local WAON cards amounted to ¥392 million.」

「As of February 2026, the program was being carried out at 54 stores, an increase of 7 stores from the previous year. The number of items collected also increased by 6,511 from the previous fiscal year to 68,690, with cooperation from many customers.」

「During the current fiscal year, we newly launched food drive activities at 10 stores, bringing the total number of participating stores in Hokkaido to 45.」

「The food drive, launched in 2022 to promote understanding of and cooperation in reducing food waste, was started at 3 additional stores during the cumulative first-quarter period, bringing the number of participating stores to 38.」

「As of the end of February 2024, cumulative donations to local communities through local WAON cards amounted to ¥281.98 million.」

「As part of our partnership with local communities, we further promoted the food drive, bringing the number of participating stores to 32 at the end of the third quarter. We also signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Rakuno Gakuen Educational Institution to promote local economic circulation. Going forward, we will advance sustainable initiatives, including providing food waste generated at stores free of charge for effective use as feed and compost and selling the fattened beef cattle in stores.」

「As part of our partnership with local communities, we further promoted the food drive, including by holding it for the first time at our SM stores in Hakodate. The number of participating stores reached 27 at the end of the second quarter.」

「As part of our partnership with local communities, we promoted the food drive to encourage understanding of and cooperation in reducing food waste, expanding the number of participating stores from 2 to 16, including all GMS stores in Sapporo. In May, we also participated in the 4th Hokkaido Minami-Furano Town Tree-Planting event held by Minami-Furano and the AEON Environmental Foundation, with local volunteers and employees planting 2,000 trees.」

「We also conducted the “Hokkaido Future Challenge Support Fundraising Campaign” at all stores and business locations to support motivated young people from Hokkaido pursuing challenges overseas, donating ¥1,100,837 to a fund operated by Hokkaido.」

「As part of our partnership with local communities, we began a food drive this year to raise awareness of and reduce food waste, and in October also launched the initiative at AEON Kamiso in Hokuto.」

「As part of our partnership with local communities, we began a food drive at AEON Sapporo Hiraoka in June to raise awareness of and reduce food waste.」

「As part of our SDGs initiatives, we conducted the “AEON Ukraine Children’s Relief Fundraising Campaign,” hoping that children in Ukraine can once again live in safety and security. The campaign was held at 165 stores and business locations, raising approximately ¥28.08 million, which was donated to the Japan Committee for UNICEF. In addition, in May, we participated in the 3rd Minami-Furano Town Tree-Planting event held by Minami-Furano and the AEON Environmental Foundation, with local volunteers and employees planting 2,000 trees.」

「We will continue working with local communities to address local issues and realise stores that are indispensable to their communities and towns where people can live comfortably, pursuing environmental and social contribution activities in partnership with local communities in addition to initiatives involving products and stores.」

「As part of a comprehensive partnership agreement with local governments, we have provided AEON Chitose since May and AEON Mall Asahikawa Nishi since June as vaccination sites for COVID-19 mass vaccinations operated by local governments.」

「As part of a comprehensive partnership agreement with local governments, we have provided AEON Chitose as a vaccination site since May to enable the rapid and smooth administration of COVID-19 vaccines.」

「The number of locations where the cards can be used increased by approximately 3,000 over the year to approximately 11,200. Donations amounted to approximately ¥37 million in the current fiscal year and approximately ¥198 million cumulatively from 2011.」

「In October, in cooperation with Consadole Co., Ltd., we began selling the “I Love Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo WAON,” with a portion of spending used for activities promoting community development in its hometown.」

「In May, we signed an agreement on support and cooperation during disasters with Hokkaido Gas Co., Ltd. to facilitate emergency disaster response and recovery measures in Hokkaido and support safe and secure lives in local communities.」

「In addition, we are working to achieve the SDGs, aiming to realise a sustainable society and grow the company through our business activities. During the current fiscal year in particular, we signed comprehensive partnership agreements with municipalities where our stores are located, including the Sapporo central linked city region, Monbetsu, Kitami, Tomakomai, Chitose and Kushiro Town, undertaking initiatives to further revitalise local communities.」

「As part of our community contribution initiatives, under “promoting the local ecosystem,” we signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Monbetsu titled “Comprehensive Partnership Agreement on Collaborative Community Development.” The agreement provides for close cooperation across 7 areas, including promoting the local economy, local production for local consumption and disaster preparedness.」

「Ahead of other AEON stores nationwide, we added the G.G benefit to WAON from March, making shopping more advantageous for people aged 55 and over. The benefit was also well received when used together with local WAON cards, which have donation schemes benefiting local communities, supporting the shift to cashless payments and addressing the needs of an ageing society.」

「We launched a demonstration trial of WAON payments on multi-section fare routes, the first such service nationwide and the only electronic money service of its kind other than a transport IC card. We also signed a regional partnership agreement with Kushiro and worked to further revitalise the community and improve convenience for local residents, including by issuing the Kushiro WAON, a local WAON card that donates a portion of spending.」

「We made every effort to assist as many customers as possible, providing supplies to municipalities and others under disaster-preparedness agreements and conducting emergency relief fundraising campaigns.」

「We also worked to expand electronic money WAON. Transport operators in Hokkaido, including Tokachi Bus and Kushiro Bus, became the first to enable payment for fixed-fare sections using an electronic money service other than a transport IC card. By increasing the number of external participating stores, we enhanced WAON’s value as the overwhelmingly most widely used electronic money service in Hokkaido. In August, we signed a regional partnership agreement with Kushiro to promote the local economy and tourism. Going forward, we will work to revitalise local communities and create new services for local residents, including issuing the Kushiro WAON, a local WAON card that donates a portion of spending.」

「As part of AEON’s “local ecosystem” initiative, we helped improve convenience and revitalise local communities by enabling passengers to pay route-bus fares with WAON, the first such option other than a transport IC card, to support bus routes that are an important means of transportation in eastern Hokkaido.」

「We signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Obihiro and issued the new Tokachi-Obihiro WAON, our 7th local WAON card. Cumulative donations to local communities through local WAON cards, which incorporate a subsidy scheme, reached ¥110 million from 2011. As part of our efforts to promote community revitalisation through WAON, we also introduced WAON payments at stores operated by セコマ and SATUDORA HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. from the current fiscal year. WAON can now be used at approximately 7,000 locations in Hokkaido, making it the No. 1 electronic money service in Hokkaido.」

「As part of our contribution to local communities through AEON’s electronic money WAON, we issued the Tokachi-Obihiro WAON. Going forward, a portion of the amount spent will support childcare and educational facilities and the enhancement of the zoo in Obihiro.」

「To promote community revitalisation using AEON’s electronic money WAON, we introduced WAON payments at stores operated by the two leading Hokkaido companies セコマ and SATUDORA HOLDINGS CO.,LTD. As a result, the number of participating stores accepting WAON in Hokkaido expanded to approximately 6,000, further improving customer convenience.」

「We issue local WAON cards in Hokkaido, Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa and Tomakomai, returning 0.1% of the amount spent to the community and using the funds to support community revitalisation and improved municipal services. Donations from the Asahikawa WAON presentation ceremony held in May are scheduled to be used for facility improvements and repairs at Asahiyama Zoo, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and to create greater vibrancy in central Asahikawa.」

「③ Achieving No. 1 in community revitalisation in Hokkaido」

「AEON Hokkaido will continue to actively pursue initiatives that contribute to society and local communities, striving to become an indispensable company in the communities we serve.」

「We have pursued initiatives aimed at becoming No. 1 in community contribution in Hokkaido and further strengthening our ties with local communities.」