Aeon Hokkaido plans to open The Big Chitose Budokan-mae store in a fiercely competitive area of Chitose. Competition between discount stores and supermarkets is expected to intensify further among several stores, including the nearby Trial.
Chitose is one of Hokkaido’s most fiercely competitive supermarket markets, with multiple stores operated by Aeon Hokkaido, including Chitose store, competing with Ralse and Coop Sapporo. Aeon Hokkaido now plans to open The Big Chitose Budokan-mae store near Trial in Chitose, with the opening scheduled for late October 2026.
As for competitors’ activities, impairment processing at Daiichi Chitose store, which opened 2 years ago, has come to light. The impairment loss was reportedly just over ¥1.3 billion, large enough to significantly reduce the company’s net profit forecast. Competition in Chitose will continue.
The Big is a discount store that Aeon Hokkaido has positioned as a growth driver. It will open on the forecourt of Trial within a 1 km radius of the Chitose Seiryu store. Competitors are responding through pricing and product assortment as they seek to capture demand in Chitose’s discount-store market.
Trial has shifted to merchandise planning that emphasises quality and freshness, attracting customers while avoiding excessive price competition. The Big, meanwhile, aims to attract shoppers through affordable prices and an enhanced prepared-food offering focused on value for money.