Mitsubishi, Lawson eye more convenience stores with gas stations

December 25, 2017

Tokyo- Major Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp. and its convenience store operator unit Lawson Inc. will increase the number of convenience stores with gas stations at their premises from the current eight to 30 by fiscal 2020, according to informed sources.

The companies aim to expand the social infrastructure functions of convenience stores, regarding gasoline as one of the products sold at the outlets, the sources said.

They plan to increase the number of stores with self-service gas stations. With common designs for outlets as well as refueling and vehicle-washing equipment, operational costs can be held down if convenience store workers also manage the service stations, according to the sources.

An official from Diashoseki Co., which operates the existing eight service stations in the Kanto eastern Japan region with investment from Mitsubishi, stresses the synergy effects of hybrid stores. "Many customers use both the gas stations and convenience stores, and stable profits can therefore be expected," the official said.

Mitsubishi hopes to boost its number of such stores across Japan by calling on other business partners to collaborate on the business.

The number of gasoline stations is falling in Japan, mainly due to depopulation and the wider use of electric vehicles.

Amid intensifying competition among convenience store operators, Lawson is working with Mitsubishi to promote multifunctional outlets. Jiji Press