August 22, 2025

Aeon’s “My Basket” to Double Store Count by 2030

Leveraging Vacant Convenience Stores to Expand Affordable Fresh-Food Retail

Aeon’s compact supermarket chain “My Basket” is set to more than double its footprint, expanding to 2,500 stores by 2030. The strategy centers on repurposing existing retail spaces—particularly vacant convenience store sites—allowing the chain to cut initial investment costs in half while accelerating its rollout. By focusing on fresh produce and discounted daily necessities, My Basket aims to capture growing demand for affordable, close-to-home shopping.

The chain plans to open over 150 new outlets in the fiscal year ending February 2026, followed by 200 or more each year thereafter. This represents a sharp increase from the current pace of around 100 new stores annually. My Basket currently operates about 1,200 locations concentrated in Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa. These convenience store–sized supermarkets sell daily essentials and fresh food at prices lower than typical convenience stores.

According to the Japan Franchise Association, the number of convenience stores in Japan is projected to fall slightly to 55,736 by the end of 2024, down from a 2021 peak of 55,950. As competition intensifies with drugstores and e-commerce, many operators are closing or relocating unprofitable outlets. The resulting surge in available properties has created new opportunities for Aeon’s expansion.

By reusing fixtures, air-conditioning units, and existing interiors, My Basket can launch new stores with less than half the usual investment. Renovation periods are also shortened to about one-third of typical construction times. To address limited storage space at these sites, Aeon relies on its group-wide warehouses and logistics networks for efficient deliveries. Concentrating outlets within targeted areas further enhances distribution efficiency.

Unlike major convenience store chains that rely heavily on franchises, My Basket operates all of its stores directly. This strategy enables Aeon to capture regional demand in its entirety—even when outlets compete with each other—ultimately boosting overall profitability.