Jul 20 (Nikkei) - Seven-Eleven Japan, the country's largest convenience store chain, has embarked on a major review of what a typical store looks like.
Replacing the "one-size-fits-all" model for the whole country, the company will give more autonomy to each store to redesign itself to cater to the local cliental.
It marks a big turning point for the Japanese convenience store, which had pursued the unified format -- synonymous with efficient management -- throughout the half-century since the opening of the first 7-Eleven store.
At a 7-Eleven store in Tokyo's Itabashi district, the number of frozen-food cases was recently doubled from one to two. "Due to the coronavirus, less people are casually dropping by at the store. Instead, we are seeing people coming in for bulk shopping of preservative foods," the store manager said.
Throughout the country, 7-Eleven stores are undergoing layout changes. The fear of infection through dining inside restaurants and lining up at supermarkets has pushed consumers to buy groceries and daily goods at nearby convenience stores.
While mainstay rice balls and sandwiches have seen slower sales, liquor, frozen foods and sweets are growing.
The store in Itabashi has doubled its stock of lemon-flavored alcohol. It has quadrupled its frozen udon inventory.
Store owners have been given the green light to change store layouts. It is not, however, an entirely free hand. Seven-Eleven headquarters has prepared multiple layouts suggestions, according to the location of the store. Stores by the roadside and those in residential areas will receive different blueprints. Owners can chose from these suggestions and make improvements at their discretion.
