Lawson unveils small supermarket format in Tokyo
The company's entry into a new retail format targets budget-conscious shoppers amid rising consumer prices.
Japanese convenience store chain Lawson has opened its first small supermarket in Kodaira, western Tokyo, marking the company's entry into a new retail format targeting budget-conscious shoppers amid rising consumer prices.
The outlet, named L Minimart, offers fresh produce, meats, eggs, and other everyday goods at competitive prices. It operates on longer hours than a typical convenience store (7AM to 11PM) and features a larger sales floor dedicated to fresh and perishable items, including natto fermented soybean products.
The format is being rolled out by converting existing Lawson Store 100 locations, the chain's low-price convenience store brand. Two further openings are planned for June: one in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward and another in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Further expansion will be assessed based on sales performance and local demand.
Lawson's move comes as competition intensifies among small-format supermarkets in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
