Monday saw Japanese convenience store Lawson’s opened its doors in Nanjing for the first time, and not in one, but five separate locations.
Lawson’s plan to open another 300 stores around the city in the next 3 to 5 years; with an ultimate goal of 3,000 stores nationwide by 2020.
Tokyo-based Lawson has signed a franchise agreement with Nanjing Central Emporium (local retailer) to help bring the convenience store here.
The store has successfully been stationed in Shanghai for over 20 years opening in 1996 and now has approximately 1,100 stores Chongqing also. Lawson has been hesitant to open in Nanjing for obvious sensitive reasons.
On the shelves one can find the usual array of odd Chinese snacks and drinks. However, Lawson offers slightly different versions of cooked and ready-made food. Lawson is known for its bakery as well as western wine and spirits, Japanese hair styling products plus foreign body care brands and handy household items; for example USB phone chargers.
While small Suguo convenience stores are still marginally dominant downtown, we are starting to see more “7-11” type stores, battling it out for dominance in the corner store sector.
The five stores that are now open to the public are in the following five locations: 18 Moling Lu (downtown); C-3, Green Business Plaza, West Sector, Nanjing South Railway Station; 11-19,Huayi Avenue, Yuhuatai District; 1 Changjing Lou Xi Lu and at 92-5 Bailule Jie, Jianye District.
