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. 

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>The convenience store sector returned to growth last year but the outlook remains uncertain.</li>
<li>The big 3 chains still have a way to go to adjust to a new era of slower growth and the need for new ideas.</li>
<li>Even with new ideas on merchandising and services, the CVS sector remains saturated and the only real growth is overseas or in other formats.</li>
</ul>


The convenience store sector returned to growth last year but the outlook remains uncertain.
The big 3 chains still have a way to go to adjust to a new era of slower growth and the need for new ideas.
Even with new ideas on merchandising and services, the CVS sector remains saturated and the only real growth is overseas or in other formats.


Top Japanese Convenience Store Chains Rebound in FY2021

<ul>
<li>As more suppliers announce price increases, larger retailers are turning to discount campaigns to establish some early price credibility before competition gets even fiercer. </li>
<li>Lower prices will increasingly attract customers as price sensitivity quickly rises, benefiting discount retailers.</li>
<li>But, with the Yen so low, import prices are also set to add to the pressure pin standard price retailers – a full list of vulnerable retailers below.</li>
</ul>


As more suppliers announce price increases, larger retailers are turning to discount campaigns to establish some early price credibility before competition gets even fiercer. 
Lower prices will increasingly attract customers as price sensitivity quickly rises, benefiting discount retailers.
But, with the Yen so low, import prices are also set to add to the pressure pin standard price retailers – a full list of vulnerable retailers below.


Japan's Big Retailers Resist Price Pressure

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lawson-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1040:1" rel="noopener">Lawson Inc (2651 JP)</a> acquired the upmarket supermarket operator, Seijo Ishii, in 2014 for ¥55 billion.</li>
<li>It is now considering plans for an IPO for Seijo next year following a boom in the company's fortunes during the pandemic.</li>
<li>Net profit rose 13% last year and the potential for growth remains strong given the expansion of the wealth market in Japan. </li>
</ul>



Lawson Inc (2651 JP) acquired the upmarket supermarket operator, Seijo Ishii, in 2014 for ¥55 billion.
It is now considering plans for an IPO for Seijo next year following a boom in the company's fortunes during the pandemic.
Net profit rose 13% last year and the potential for growth remains strong given the expansion of the wealth market in Japan. 


<ul>
<li>OniGo only opened its first dark store in the middle of last year and along with competitors is expanding rapidly.</li>
<li>But it also recently signed up to deliver orders from Lawson Store 100 and is running a trial from Comfort Market, Seven &amp; I’s concept store in Setagaya.  </li>
<li>In both cases, online orders are picked, not by store staff, but by OniGo’s own staff, to increase the speed of order preparation and to tie to store’s inventory systems.</li>
</ul>


OniGo only opened its first dark store in the middle of last year and along with competitors is expanding rapidly.
But it also recently signed up to deliver orders from Lawson Store 100 and is running a trial from Comfort Market, Seven &amp; I’s concept store in Setagaya.  
In both cases, online orders are picked, not by store staff, but by OniGo’s own staff, to increase the speed of order preparation and to tie to store’s inventory systems.


Dark Store Delivery in Japan Takes Off – Collaborating with Retailers

Equity Analyst, LightStream Research

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

Equity Analyst

Long-Short Analysis on Japan, Asia and the World

LightStream Research

LightStream conducts quantitatively rigorous and data-driven analysis with a focus on Japan and Asia.

We consistently cover the Tech, Consumer and Industrial sectors, and provide ECM and Events coverage more broadly.

We supplement traditional qualitative insights from company relationships with a robust quantitative foundation that examines as much historical data as is available.
We further refine the accuracy of our insights and calls through the use of alternative data to flesh out current trends, and through a valuation framework that emphasises non-superficial peer group selection and a proper attempt to understand the metrics and changes that have driven security valuations in the past.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>The fourth quarter was again a disappointing one for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lawson-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1040:1" rel="noopener">Lawson Inc (2651 JP)</a> with operating income falling short of consensus by 14.6%.</li>
<li>The next year’s OP guidance of ¥53.0bn (12.5% YoY) is around ¥10.0bn below the pre-COVID level, but Lawson’s lower profitability could be due to heavy upfront investments.</li>
<li>Further out, there is substantial upside to Lawson’s profitability and consensus could be unjustly penalizing Lawson’s growth investments by valuing the company at a discounted FY+2 OP multiple.</li>
</ul>


The fourth quarter was again a disappointing one for Lawson Inc (2651 JP) with operating income falling short of consensus by 14.6%.
The next year’s OP guidance of ¥53.0bn (12.5% YoY) is around ¥10.0bn below the pre-COVID level, but Lawson’s lower profitability could be due to heavy upfront investments.
Further out, there is substantial upside to Lawson’s profitability and consensus could be unjustly penalizing Lawson’s growth investments by valuing the company at a discounted FY+2 OP multiple.


Lawson: Profitability Held Back by Growth Investments

Japan

LAWSON, INC. operates a chain of convenience stores in Japan. The Company sells a variety of products including fast food, beverages, snacks, magazines, newspapers, and sundry goods.

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Lawson Inc (2651 JP)

Top Japanese Convenience Store Chains Rebound in FY2021

Japanese convenience store chains posted higher sales in 2021 after a tough 2020 but the outlook remains uncertain given saturation and new forms...

Michael Causton

Japan's Big Retailers Resist Price Pressure

The pressure on costs should just mean that retailers raise prices but with competition so intense, standard retailers are trying to resist raising...

Michael Causton

Lawson Considering IPO for Seijo Ishii

Lawson may arrange an IPO for its upscale supermarket subsidiary Seijo Ishii, a popular retailer which has doubled in size in the last decade and...

Michael Causton

Dark Store Delivery in Japan Takes Off – Collaborating with Retailers

Dark stores are taking off, set up by delivery firms to ship food and basic daily use products. Some are competing with retailers but others are...

Michael Causton

Lawson: Profitability Held Back by Growth Investments

With ¥53.0bn OP guidance for FY23, it seems that the company’s profitability could be ¥10.0-15.0bn above the market expectation. Share price and OP...

Oshadhi Kumarasiri

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