Reporting and analysis on retail, e-commerce, and consumer trends in Japan, updated continuously by our newsroom.
McDonald’s is finalizing a sale of the right to operate its China and Hong Kong restaurants. Prompted by stagnating market share and an increasingly challenging operating environment, the move allows McDonald’s to keep a presence in China without the burden…
As many companies are looking to Asia for the first time, some have been in these markets for a while and are strengthening ties within the region. Zespri is one of these companies and have made big in roads into Asia in recent years and are continuing to…
Hundreds of people have stood in long lines outside Japanese stores to buy the Pokemon Go Plus device. In Osaka, around 700 people waited outside a Pokemon Centre shop to buy the device when the store opened at 0800, two hours earlier than usual. Pokemon Go…
Aiming to add variety in the face of intensifying competition, Japanese retail giant Aeon Mall is inviting foreign businesses to sign on as tenants in Japan. Aeon Mall, which has about 150 shopping centres across Japan, will aim to have its first new-look…
Singapore salad bar chain SaladStop! has raised S$5 million (US$3.6 million) from private equity firmsDSG Consumer Partners and Hera Capital who took a minority stake in the company. SaladStop! has 15 outlets in Singapore and eight in the Philippines, with…
Luxury goods maker Richemont said on Wednesday that it expected operating profit in the six months to September to decline by 45% from a year ago. The Luxembourg-and JSE-listed group said in a statement that the decline reflected the effect of one-off…
Four Mainland China restaurant chains have set up in Singapore since November, the latest opening in Riverside Point on Friday. It will be the first overseas outlet for Chengdu-style hotpot chain Spicy House, which has about 30 outlets on the mainland. Two…
Baroque Japan, which has a retail portfolio of young women’s fashion apparel and accessories, has arrived in New York City. It has opening an Enfold fashion brand shop in the West Village and a Moussy outlet in SoHo. Launched in 2012, Enfold has a strong…
French fashion jeweller Agatha Paris has opened its first stand-alone travel retail store, at Haikou Meilan International Airport on China’s Hainan Island. Opened in partnership with Hainan Duty Free, the 20 sqm store has a contract until September 2019.…
Japan’s SoftBank has revealed plans to roll out a LoRaWAN low power wide area (LPWA) network in the current financial year. The operator plans to use the network to provide end-to-end IoT services, ranging from device and application support to consulting.…
Starbucks Asia is rolling out Teavana in 6200 stores across its 16 Apac markets. Four tea beverages prepared in-store will be offered to the 16 countries, with two or three expected to be sold in each market, the choice up to each one. Starbucks acquired…
Softbank and its affiliate company, Wireless City Planning, have officially launched the ‘5G Project’. As the first phase of the project, which was announced in Tokyo last week, Softbank plans to roll out commercial services based on Massive MIMO technology…
Honda Motor Co on Thursday said it was recalling about 668,000 vehicles in Japan to replace air bag inflators supplied by Takata, as part of an expanded nationwide recall announced earlier this year. Japan’s second-largest automaker said it had recalled…
Hermès and Nike have revealed new collaborations with Apple, to produce exclusive co-branded Apple Watches. Hermès introduced new Apple Watch styles and an expanded assortment of wristbands that incorporate its signature palette alongside a series of bold new…
Italian luxury leathergoods brand Furla has reported a 38 per cent increase in travel-retail sales for its first half, with Japan being its strongest market. Furla has 223 travel-retail points of sales in 52 countries, the latest openings for Furla Asia…
JCB, the only international payments brand based in Japan, today announced that it brings its customers Apple Pay when it launches in October, an easy, fast and secure way to make mobile payments that is private and convenient with iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus,…
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