Japanese convenience and supermarket operator Seven & i Holdings has confirmed to just-food that it intends to “considerably” boost the number of its own-brand food supermarkets over the next few years.
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The move will allow it to meet growing consumer demand for cut-price foods, a spokesperson for the group said.
“We plan to strongly brand the new stores as part of our marketing strategy, in such a way to impress on local communities that we will be providing fresh and seasonal local food,” the spokesperson added.
The firm, which operates Seven-Eleven convenience stores and other retail outlets in Japan and overseas, will be converting existing stores and opening new stores to its “York Benimaru” food supermarket banner.
The company declined to specify how many York Benimaru stores it would be opening.
Seven & i has already started converting local supermarket Fushikoshi to the York Benimaru brand in Fukushima Prefecture.
The retailer is expected to spend about JPY45bn (US$413m) on opening and converting supermarkets.
