Seven-Eleven Japan to halt 24h operations amid labour crunch
Eight stores will scale back their operating hours in November, as they struggle to staff the night shift.
Seven-Eleven Japan Co. is ending 24-hour operations at some outlets, becoming the first major convenience store operator in Japan to scale back around-the-clock opening hours to address the country’s labour crunch, reports Japan Times.
The company will start by cutting down the hours in eight stores as of November 1. Some 200 additonal stores - out of a total of 21,000 nationwide - may also join.
“We will talk with shop owners in line with our new guidelines. They will make a final decision,” says Seven-Eleven Japan President Fumihiko Nagamatsu at a news conference.
Seven-Eleven Japan introduced the 24-hour business in 1975, requiring franchise owners to open overnight.
Major convenience store FamilyMart Co. is also trying out shorther opening hours - 612 stores, or 3.7 percent of its overall franchise outlets. The company will decide whether to end its round-the-clock operations after a trial period.
Also c-store chain Lawson Inc. said that about 100 of its stores have stopped operating 24 hours.
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