Convenience store sales in Japan rose 3.7 percent on a year-on-year basis to a record 11.2 trillion yen ($87.2 billion) in 2022, as customers returned after the government lifted COVID-19 restrictions and promoted a domestic travel subsidy program, an industry body said Friday.
The same-store sales of seven major convenience store operators grew for the second consecutive year, thanks to robust sales of items such as boxed lunches, rice balls, frozen food products and soft drinks, according to the Japan Franchise Association.
Sales were boosted as buying daily necessities in bulk at one location, which became popular under the coronavirus restrictions, has become a long-term trend, according to the association.
The gain in sales was also contributed to by the National Travel Discount program, restarted by the government in October to help revamp domestic tourism, the association said, adding that convenience stores have developed and offered new products that have catered to the increased turnout.
In December alone, sales increased by 3.9 percent from the same month in 2021 to 1 trillion yen.
