Half of FamilyMart owners want shorter hours
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FamilyMart Japan says almost half of its franchisees want to drop its signature 24-hour trading hours.
The firm conducted a recent survey among its around 14,000 franchises in Japan, of which 48.3 percent said they want to operate shorter hours, citing the cost of late-night operations and labor shortages. Of those, 73.3 percent wanted reduced hours every day, while 26.3 percent said that reduced hours one day a week would be sufficient.
The remaining stores indicated a wish to retain 24-hour operations to avoid a drop in sales.
Given the unexpectedly high interest in reducing store hours, FamilyMart Japan president Takashi Sawada announced: “We’ll build a system to ensure profits at franchisees.”
FamilyMart Japan currently has 24 stores experimenting with shorter daily operational hours and will increase that number to 700 from October. It will review its 24-hour policy next year.
Questions & Answers
Q.What proportion of FamilyMart franchisees surveyed expressed a desire to reduce their operating hours?
What proportion of FamilyMart franchisees surveyed expressed a desire to reduce their operating hours?
Almost half of the FamilyMart Japan franchisees surveyed, specifically 48.3 percent of around 14,000, indicated they wished to operate shorter hours. They cited high operating costs and labour shortages as reasons.
Q.What was the main reason given by franchisees for wanting to shorten their opening times?
What was the main reason given by franchisees for wanting to shorten their opening times?
Franchisees primarily cited the high cost of late-night operations and ongoing labour shortages as the main reasons for wanting to reduce their trading hours. This suggests financial pressures and staffing difficulties are key concerns.
Q.How many stores are currently experimenting with reduced hours, and what are the plans for expansion?
How many stores are currently experimenting with reduced hours, and what are the plans for expansion?
FamilyMart Japan currently has 24 stores experimenting with shorter daily operational hours. This number is set to increase significantly to 700 stores from October as part of their ongoing review.
Q.When does FamilyMart Japan plan to review its overall 24-hour trading policy?
When does FamilyMart Japan plan to review its overall 24-hour trading policy?
FamilyMart Japan intends to review its longstanding 24-hour trading policy next year. This follows the high interest from franchisees in reducing their operational hours due to cost and labour issues.
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