Promoting Best Local

「Food donation drives are being conducted at 279 stores, and the cumulative weight collected since their launch in 2019 has exceeded 155 tonnes.」

「We expanded the food drive initiative, launched in 2022, to 38 stores.」

「In addition to operating food drives at 32 stores, we signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Rakuno Gakuen Educational Foundation and are promoting a local economic cycle through the effective use of food waste at stores and the sale of beef cattle raised for meat.」

「We also expanded ties with local communities by introducing food drives at 27 stores and implementing product planning and donations related to social contribution activities, including support for children's cafeterias.」

「MaxValu Tokai Co., Ltd. revitalized 10 existing stores and worked to improve product assortments and sales-floor layouts in line with local characteristics, strengthen fresh food and delicatessen offerings, and expand locally popular products.」

「During the fiscal year under review, we developed approximately 760 distinctive local products using ingredients produced in Hokkaido.」

「We developed approximately 650 distinctive local products during the cumulative third-quarter consolidated period under review, including grilled and flaked hokke and Donan Red Croquettes.」

「As part of its product initiatives, we deepened ties with producers near our stores and launched Freshly Harvested This Morning, offering vegetables harvested that morning. We also developed products such as Yotei Mountain-Grown! Danshaku Potato Salad, prepared with a sweeter flavor to suit the tastes of Hokkaido residents. Approximately 400 items were developed in total during the first half, contributing to sales growth.」

「On 1 March, AEON Hokkaido Co., Ltd. integrated its management with MaxValu Hokkaido Co., Ltd. and took over 84 food supermarkets. It relaunched under the management vision of becoming a company that supports the health and wellness of the people of Hokkaido.」

「AEON Style Kamiasao (Kanagawa Prefecture), which opened in March, operates as a food supermarket where local customers can purchase the products they need in one place. Its offering is centered on fresh food and prepared dishes, including the on-site dining format Koko de Deli, where customers can eat items such as steak and pasta, as well as pharmaceuticals and prescription medicines. To meet the particularly strong demand among the G.G. generation for locally produced goods, the produce section has a permanent display of freshly harvested local vegetables, offers a service to portion them into smaller packages on site, and carries well-known confectionery from Kawasaki. The store is strengthening its locally rooted product range.」

「AEON Hokkaido Co., Ltd. revitalized AEON Mall Sapporo Hassamu, one of the largest shopping malls in Hokkaido, in March to help establish it as a new community hub. In response to local customer needs, it worked to create an attractive facility, including Hokkaido's first priority counter seating in the food court for children using baby food. As a result, specialty store sales rose to 107.4% of the same period a year earlier.」

「Initiatives such as mall walking and Opera de AEON MALL successfully attracted new customer segments, including seniors, while sales measures aimed at promoting localization also paid off, resulting in specialty store sales exceeding those of the same period a year earlier.」

「To respond to changing customer needs related to food and digitization, we will pursue the No. 1 market share in each region and integrate and reorganize the group's SM business and the food divisions of its GMS business on a regional basis.」

「AEON Hokkaido Co., Ltd. worked under the concept of promoting store development tailored to each community. In the food division, it proposed seasonal ingredients and high-quality products carefully selected from across Japan. It also strengthened its response to inbound demand by enhancing information dissemination through tie-ups with local governments and tourism associations and participating in overseas travel fairs. As a result, sales reached a record high, at 101.6% of the previous year's level, and profit increased as cost-reduction initiatives paid off.」

「Through these store reorganizations within the group, we will further promote Best Local in each region of Japan.」