Strengthening Community Connections through Local Partnerships

「We also focused on tenant leasing to enhance the appeal of the entire facility, working to increase the store’s value by attracting 2 tenants making their first entry into Hokkaido and 3 making their first entry into the area.」

「In fiscal 2025, the company newly entered into agreements with Akkeshi Town, Nemuro City, Hokuto City, and Shinhidaka Town, followed by agreements with Takikawa City and Noboribetsu City in March 2026.」

「We also entered into agreements with local governments and opened 102 stores operated by the company as cooling shelters, providing places where people could escape the heat.」

「To enhance the appeal of the entire facility, the company established a Developer Division in March. In July, reflecting the strength of having physical GMS stores, it held a barbecue and beer garden event on the rooftop of the AEON Sapporo Teine Station-front Shopping Center. The event attracted many visitors, including families with children and groups of friends, creating a lively atmosphere.」

「In its cooperation with government authorities, the company has entered into comprehensive partnership agreements with Hokkaido, 12 cities, and 1 urban area, and is working to resolve issues in each region. The company also serves as a disaster-prevention hub and has entered into disaster-prevention agreements with the 42 municipalities in which its stores are located.」

「As part of its sustainable management initiatives, the company opened its stores as cooling shelters as a form of social contribution. A total of 84 of its facilities in 10 cities in Hokkaido have been designated for this purpose, and customers use rest areas inside the stores as cool spaces during shopping.」

「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.」

「In its cooperation with government authorities, the company has entered into comprehensive partnership agreements with Hokkaido, 12 cities, and 1 urban area, and is working to resolve issues in each region. The company also serves as a disaster-prevention hub and has entered into disaster-prevention agreements with the 42 municipalities in which its stores are located. In March 2023, 27 of its stores were designated as evacuation facilities under civil protection plans, further strengthening preparations for emergencies.」

「The company entered into a comprehensive partnership agreement with Rakuno Gakuen Educational Foundation to promote local economic circulation. Going forward, it will provide food waste generated at its stores free of charge for effective use as feed and compost, and advance sustainable initiatives including the sale of the fattened beef cattle at its stores.」

「To serve as a community exchange hub, GMS stores held cultural and artistic performances and events for local residents. The number of events was approximately 1.5 times the previous year during Golden Week and approximately 2.2 times the previous year during the Obon period, encouraging visits and contributing to higher customer traffic across the entire facility.」

「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.」

「To fulfill its role as social infrastructure and support the lives of local customers even in emergencies, the company has entered into disaster-prevention agreements with every municipality in which it operates a store, and will continue to actively prepare for business continuity.」

「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.」

「In addition, in May, the company participated in the 3rd Minamifurano Tree-Planting event organized by Minamifurano Town and the AEON Environmental Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation. Local volunteers and employees planted 2,000 trees.」

「During the fiscal year, as infrastructure supporting local life, the company entered into a comprehensive partnership agreement on collaborative community development with Muroran City and Nayoro City, and agreements on support during disasters with 9 municipalities, including Yakumo Town, Kuriyama Town, and Eniwa City. It also issued the Sapporo Central Urban Area WAON electronic money card, under which the company donates part of sales to local activities, thereby expanding its regional partnerships.」

「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.」

「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 particular, with Monbetsu City, the company provided convenient services for local residents' shopping, including linking with the local points card and launching WAON payment services on the city's loop bus.」

「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.」

「In the April unified local elections, the company newly established early-voting stations at 3 stores, bringing the total to 4 stores, to support public activities in the community.」

「The company also entered into a regional partnership agreement with Kushiro City and worked to further revitalize the community and improve convenience for local residents, including by issuing the Kushiro WAON local card, which donates part of the amount spent.」

「Following the earthquake, with the cooperation of business partners and the AEON Group nationwide, we urgently procured more food and other supplies than anyone else and resumed operations at the earliest opportunity. In addition, we made every effort to support as many customers as possible by providing supplies to municipalities and others under disaster-prevention agreements and conducting emergency relief fundraising.」

「In August, the company also entered into a regional partnership agreement with Kushiro City to promote close cooperation in areas including regional economic development and tourism. Going forward, it will work to revitalize the community and create new services for local residents, including by issuing the Kushiro WAON local card, which donates part of the amount spent.」

「As part of its product-related initiatives, the company conducted campaigns including the development and sale of products available exclusively at AEON Group stores in Hokkaido as a partner company in the 150th Anniversary of Hokkaido Naming project, as well as direct-from-source sales from fishing ports and expanded sales of Hokkaido-produced food products.」

「We signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Obihiro and issued the new Tokachi-Obihiro WAON, our 7th local WAON card.」

「As in the previous year, we are holding AEON Mall Walking at AEON Mall Tomakomai to promote the health of local residents. Participants can enjoy walking safely, warmly and comfortably inside the shopping mall while earning points, and regular walking lessons by dedicated trainers are also provided, further promoting community revitalisation and improving municipal services.」

「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.」

「As part of this fiscal year's organisational changes, we reformed the Area Promotion Department, which is responsible for card business strategy, by newly integrating the functions of the regional ecosystem, a new network connecting local stores, communities and lifestyles, inbound business and environmental and social contributions, enabling activities more closely rooted in local communities.」

「In February 2017, we launched SAPPORO Snow Miku WAON, a local WAON card for Sapporo. The donations will be used to promote tourism in Sapporo.」

「We conducted an emergency relief fundraising campaign for damage caused by typhoons and heavy rain in August. As part of a community-wide points programme with Tomakomai using local WAON, we also launched initiatives such as AEON Mall Walking, which awards AEON health points when eligible WAON cards are tapped at touch stands installed in the mall, with the aim of improving the health of local residents.」

「Tomachop WAON is a locally focused points system implemented jointly by Tomakomai and the federation of shopping district promotion associations. It was the first nationwide initiative of its kind as an administration-led points programme using a local WAON card and implemented through public-private cooperation. We also actively pursued initiatives as a company working alongside local communities, including environmental conservation activities through AEON Cheers Clubs and presenting donations from local WAON cards.」

「In March, we held a sales event centred on seasonal products from the Hakodate and southern Hokkaido area to promote further industrial development in Hakodate, which was bustling with excitement over the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen. In April, we opened the “Attaka Comprehensive Care Space” at AEON Yoichi, staffed by specialists who provide consultations on health and welfare, with the aim of expanding public services and providing a place for community interaction.」