Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets, JapanConsuming

Michael Causton

Expert on Japan Retail and Consumer Markets

Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

JapanConsuming

JapanConsuming is a specialist research firm producing intelligence on Japanese retail and consumer markets. Founded in 2000, JapanConsuming has become the leading provider of insights on Japanese retailers and consumer trends to retailers, brands, government agencies and investors. As well as a highly regarded monthly report on the market, JapanConsuming produces in-depth reports on retail sectors, seminars on key trends and telephone consulting to investors on trends and retailers.

JapanConsuming was founded by Michael Causton and Roy Larke. 

Event-Driven

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. is a holding company which was established through the merger of Ito-Yokado Co., Seven Eleven Japan Co., and Denny's Japan. The Company plans, manages, and operates mainly convenience stores, supermarkets, and department stores.

<ul>
<li>Recent reports suggest an MBO if firming up, with partial sale of US to ACT and even the Japan CVS business so a big value solution for all concerned.</li>
<li>Not so fast: an ACT purchase of 7-11 US looks more likely to be blocked given yesterday's ruling on the merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons.</li>
<li>The valuation of the Japan business may need a correction too if the last six months of poor numbers continue – given this is because of price perception, they may.</li>
</ul>


Recent reports suggest an MBO if firming up, with partial sale of US to ACT and even the Japan CVS business so a big value solution for all concerned.
Not so fast: an ACT purchase of 7-11 US looks more likely to be blocked given yesterday's ruling on the merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons.
The valuation of the Japan business may need a correction too if the last six months of poor numbers continue – given this is because of price perception, they may.


7&I (3382JP) - Spanners in the Works: FTC Blocks Another US Retail Merger and 7-11 Japan Sales Slump

Equity Bottom-Up

WORKMAN CO., LTD. designs, produces, and retails work uniforms and related goods including work gloves and safety shoes.  The Company operates its own stores and franchise stores located throughout eastern Japan.

<ul>
<li>Workman was a purveyor of durable gear for workers in jobs like construction but then had the brilliant idea to transpose that expertise to create activewear like Decathlon.</li>
<li>This was working well but then it decided to take on the likes of Fast Retailing and Shimamura by moving into casual clothing.</li>
<li>Since then, same-store sales growth has been negative in many months and profits have fallen. The outlook is increasingly poor.</li>
</ul>


Workman was a purveyor of durable gear for workers in jobs like construction but then had the brilliant idea to transpose that expertise to create activewear like Decathlon.
This was working well but then it decided to take on the likes of Fast Retailing and Shimamura by moving into casual clothing.
Since then, same-store sales growth has been negative in many months and profits have fallen. The outlook is increasingly poor.


Adastria Co., Ltd. operates a chain of clothing stores in Japan. The Company also operates stores in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea.

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/adastria-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11895:1" rel="noopener">Adastria Co Ltd (2685 JP)</a> has rebuilt and renamed its online store as it aims to create a major fashion mall to rival the likes of Zozo and Rakuten Fashion.</li>
<li>Unlike those rivals, it has a chain of stores linked to the mall, an advantage in a market where omnichannel is well supported by customers.</li>
<li>To boost sales from younger Japanese with fewer savings, it has also tied with <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/acom-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8897:1" rel="noopener">Acom Co Ltd (8572 JP)</a> to offer small loans.</li>
</ul>



Adastria Co Ltd (2685 JP) has rebuilt and renamed its online store as it aims to create a major fashion mall to rival the likes of Zozo and Rakuten Fashion.
Unlike those rivals, it has a chain of stores linked to the mall, an advantage in a market where omnichannel is well supported by customers.
To boost sales from younger Japanese with fewer savings, it has also tied with Acom Co Ltd (8572 JP) to offer small loans.


Adastria Targets Zozo with New Online Mall, ‘And ST’

AEON CO., LTD. operates general merchandise stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores throughout Japan. The Company is also engaged in women's and casual clothing store business, development business of commercial property, and financing service through the subsidiaries.

<ul>
<li>Post-Covid, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/aeon-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3:1" rel="noopener">Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP)</a> began to deliver real profit growth but 1H2024 showed it cannot rest on its laurels. </li>
<li>While it’ll be happy not to be worrying about a takeover bid like its rival, Seven &amp; I, it still doesn’t have a profit machine similar to Seven Eleven Japan.</li>
<li>Welcia helps and so does expanding e-commerce but there is still plenty of room for cutting overhead.</li>
</ul>


Post-Covid, Aeon Co Ltd (8267 JP) began to deliver real profit growth but 1H2024 showed it cannot rest on its laurels. 
While it’ll be happy not to be worrying about a takeover bid like its rival, Seven &amp; I, it still doesn’t have a profit machine similar to Seven Eleven Japan.
Welcia helps and so does expanding e-commerce but there is still plenty of room for cutting overhead.


<ul>
<li>Seven Eleven's future usually gets outlined as: Japan ex-growth and only growth is overseas. This is wrong. While the CVS sector is saturated, Seven Eleven itself has not reached saturation.</li>
<li>There are major areas of growth, both territorially and new offshoot businesses.  Seven is already 32% more efficient than Lawson but more to come.</li>
<li>Here we take a deep dive into the state of CVS retailing in Japan and how Seven Eleven does, and will, fit into this – and how it will grow.</li>
</ul>


Seven Eleven's future usually gets outlined as: Japan ex-growth and only growth is overseas. This is wrong. While the CVS sector is saturated, Seven Eleven itself has not reached saturation.
There are major areas of growth, both territorially and new offshoot businesses.  Seven is already 32% more efficient than Lawson but more to come.
Here we take a deep dive into the state of CVS retailing in Japan and how Seven Eleven does, and will, fit into this – and how it will grow.


Even in Japan, Significant Growth Potential for Seven Eleven and Other CVS

JapanConsuming
Real Insight on Japanese Consumer Markets

7&I (3382JP) - Spanners in the Works: FTC Blocks Another US Retail Merger and 7-11 Japan Sales Slump

Potential MBO of a firm may not be as straightforward as initially thought, with potential hurdles in the form of a blocked ACT purchase and a...

Michael Causton

Workman Under Pressure

Workman's shift from durable work gear to casual clothing has led to declining sales and profits, challenging its once successful business model.

Michael Causton

Adastria Targets Zozo with New Online Mall, ‘And ST’

Adastria Co Ltd aims to rival Zozo and Rakuten Fashion with a new online store and omnichannel strategy, targeting younger Japanese with small...

Michael Causton

Aeon (8267JP): Sales Up, Profit Down

Post-Covid, Aeon Co Ltd has seen significant profit growth but must address profit challenges and overhead costs to rival Seven & I's profit...

Michael Causton

Even in Japan, Significant Growth Potential for Seven Eleven and Other CVS

Contrary to popular belief, Seven Eleven in Japan is not saturated and has room for growth both territorially and new ventures. We look at Seven's...

Michael Causton

7&I (3382JP) - Spanners in the Works: FTC Blocks Another US Retail Merger and 7-11 Japan Sales Slump

​Potential MBO of a firm may not be as straightforward as initially thought, with potential hurdles in the form of a blocked ACT purchase and a...

Michael Causton

Workman Under Pressure

​Workman's shift from durable work gear to casual clothing has led to declining sales and profits, challenging its once successful business model.

Michael Causton

Adastria Targets Zozo with New Online Mall, ‘And ST’

​Adastria Co Ltd aims to rival Zozo and Rakuten Fashion with a new online store and omnichannel strategy, targeting younger Japanese with small...

Michael Causton

Aeon (8267JP): Sales Up, Profit Down

​Post-Covid, Aeon Co Ltd has seen significant profit growth but must address profit challenges and overhead costs to rival Seven & I's profit...

Michael Causton

Even in Japan, Significant Growth Potential for Seven Eleven and Other CVS

​Contrary to popular belief, Seven Eleven in Japan is not saturated and has room for growth both territorially and new ventures. We look at Seven's...

Michael Causton

Potential MBO of a firm may not be as straightforward as initially thought, with potential hurdles in the form of a blocked ACT purchase and a...

Workman's shift from durable work gear to casual clothing has led to declining sales and profits, challenging its once successful business model.

Adastria Co Ltd aims to rival Zozo and Rakuten Fashion with a new online store and omnichannel strategy, targeting younger Japanese with small...

Post-Covid, Aeon Co Ltd has seen significant profit growth but must address profit challenges and overhead costs to rival Seven & I's profit...

Contrary to popular belief, Seven Eleven in Japan is not saturated and has room for growth both territorially and new ventures. We look at Seven's...