[Daily Life] Convenience stores are a must-visit place when you come to Japan!

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• Table of Contents
• The History of Japanese Convenience Stores
• The three major brands
• Close and convenient! Seven-Eleven
• You and the convenience store, FamilyMart
• Lawson, the local hot station!
• Sweets War!!
• Everyone loves convenience store coffee!

The History of Japanese Convenience Stores

The first convenience store in Japan is said to be "Mamy Toyonaka Store", which was opened in Osaka Prefecture in 1969 by a food retailer. Around the same time, major domestic supermarkets partnered with American convenience stores and began to operate under the franchise system. As a result, Seven-Eleven, Lawson, Family Mart, and other convenience stores introduced here began to open one after another. Convenience stores have developed in a unique way to suit Japanese culture and customs, and there are currently about 15 chain brands like the three major companies, with the total number of convenience stores nationwide reaching about 58,000. It is difficult to grasp the total number, as there are also privately owned stores that are not chain stores.

The three major brands

There are many convenience stores all over the country, but did you know that about 90% of the stores are made up of the three major brands: Seven-Eleven, Family Mart, and Lawson? Among them, the one with the most stores is Seven-Eleven (21,248 stores), followed by Family Mart (16,047 stores) and Lawson (13,779 stores). In fourth place is Ministop (1,814 stores). As they account for 90% of the stores, you can see these three major brands in almost every town. Let's take a look at what makes each one special.

Close and convenient! Seven-Eleven

Seven-Eleven boasts an overwhelming number of stores. They are known for their wide selection of products, focusing on deliciousness and safety. The private brand (PB) "Seven Premium" is said to have established PB in the convenience store industry. Until now, PB has had a strong image of cheap products of lower quality than national brands, and many of them were aimed at low prices, but in order to break away from that image, they have refined their products as a brand that maintains high quality and has price competition, creating a fighting force that supports Seven-Eleven.

You and the convenience store, FamilyMart

FamilyMart is known for its community-based products. They customize products according to the culture, eating habits, and local specialties of each region, and develop products for each region. They also carry many area-exclusive products, and when you spot one while traveling, you can't help but pick it up. Their private brand is Famimaru, and they aim to develop and sell products that they can be proud of and deliver to their precious families. In addition, "Famima!!", which was opened as a new store in a specific facility, offers products that are adapted to the lifestyle of those facilities and features a sophisticated design that allows you to feel the joy of everyday life.

Lawson, the local hot station!

Lawson operates three types of stores: the regular "Lawson" store, the "Natural Lawson" store that sells health-conscious products, and the "Lawson Store 100" store that stocks low-priced products. Lawson's private brand is "Lawson Select." Its simple and cute design makes you want to pick it up. Lawson's biggest focus is on health. They develop and sell health-conscious products, developing a variety of products such as snacks with reduced sugar and prepared foods that contain dietary fiber.

Which shop do you like?

Sweets War!!

Convenience stores are competing to provide the most delicious sweets, so much so that it is sometimes referred to as the "sweets war." Each store sells many high-quality products every year, and in recent years they have been collaborating with specialty stores and offering products that stimulate further consumption, providing a wide variety of appeal. Let's take a look at the characteristics of each store in the intensifying sweets market.

⚫︎Seven-Eleven

Emphasis on premium quality and quality! Seven-Eleven creates products that are worth more than their price, and they are very particular about the ingredients they use. Their whipped cream, made with fresh cream from Hokkaido, is especially famous! Seven-Eleven also has its own factories across the country, where they manage everything from the ingredients to the final product, and their manufacturing methods are also differentiated, which is one of their strengths. This is where they create flavors and quality that rival those of specialty stores.

⚫︎Family Mart

Its specialty is selling trendy and topical sweets aimed at a wide range of customers, mainly young people. It aims to be the FamilyMart of sweets, based on the concept that "You're sure to find a sweet at FamilyMart that will make you feel better at any time." It is characterized by its attention to manufacturing methods, with many products that are particular about texture and feel, and that are seasonal.

⚫︎Lawson

The sweets are offered under the concept of "Your home can be a cafe anytime" as part of the "Uchi Cafe" series. Lawson aims to provide products that aim to have the taste of specialty stores that are always available, and actively collaborates with its product development team and specialty stores and famous stores. The series is characterized by a large number of sweets for health-conscious people and those with allergies, as well as highly original sweets that are a fusion of Japanese and Western styles.

Everyone loves convenience store coffee!

Before going to work, after lunch, or to blow away the fatigue of the afternoon. Many people, especially those who work in companies, are indebted to these coffee shops. They are popular because you can easily enjoy authentic coffee at a nearby convenience store, so companies are putting a lot of effort into them. Let's take a look at what features they have.

⚫︎Seven Coffee, with a focus on beans

Seven-Eleven is particular about its coffee beans. They blend four types of beans so that customers can easily enjoy the quality, aroma, and richness of a specialty store. They roast the beans using specialized machines to bring out the unique characteristics of each blended coffee bean. This roasting method is called triple roasting, and is unique to Seven-Eleven, which is particular about its beans. By bringing out the best in each coffee bean, the aroma spreads and the richness is greatly improved. It is a drip coffee type, and the machine is characterized by a "polishing process" that removes the astringent skin of the coffee beans. It has a gorgeous aroma and deep richness, and you can enjoy a refreshing taste.

⚫︎Family Mart coffee with a well-balanced taste

FamilyMart is said to use very fresh coffee beans, so you can drink delicious coffee with a focus on aroma and flavor. FamilyMart's coffee beans are a blend of beans from four different regions. The beans are ground for each cup in a coffee machine, and the optimal steaming time and extraction speed are controlled. They are also particular about the water used to extract the coffee, and the coffee is extracted using water that has been passed through a water purifier/softener.

⚫︎ Mild-tasting Lawson Coffee

Lawson's coffee is made using an espresso machine made by Italian company Calimari, and is made with a blend of coffee beans from five different farms. It has little acidity and a very light aroma. They used to focus on aroma and richness, but when they renewed their coffee, they focused on mildness and a refreshing feeling. They also adjusted the amount of coffee beans used. They also use a new roast to reduce bitterness and unpleasant flavors.

Japanese convenience stores are not just convenient places as their name suggests, but are also special spots where you can experience a part of Japanese food culture and lifestyle by visiting them. Seven-Eleven, Family Mart, and Lawson each have their own unique charms, and each store is full of surprises and fun, offering a selection of high-quality items that can be easily enjoyed in your daily life. If you are visiting Japan, be sure to visit these convenience stores and experience the rich food culture that is unique to Japan.

These products, filled with a spirit of hospitality, are sure to make your trip even more wonderful.

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