Latest news with #AeonCo.
The Mainichi
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
2 Ministop stores in Kyoto suspected of falsifying expiry dates for years
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Two branches of the Japanese convenience store chain Ministop in Kyoto Prefecture are suspected of falsifying expiry dates on foods prepared in their kitchens for several years, the local health center said Tuesday. The revelation comes after operator Ministop Co., a subsidiary of retail giant Aeon Co., said Monday it had found such misconduct at 23 stores in Tokyo, Saitama, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures. While no health problems have been reported, Ministop has temporarily suspended sales of rice balls, bento box lunches and other deli items at about 1,600 stores nationwide. During questioning by the local health center, workers at two branches in Kyoto Prefecture said they had delayed affixing labels to items prepared in in-house kitchens "for several years." Meanwhile, workers at two Ministop stores in Hyogo Prefecture were allegedly instructed by owners to falsify expiry dates when excess food was prepared. Local health centers in both prefectures have issued guidance under relevant food laws to the stores. The misconduct at 23 stores was discovered in June by a private organization contracted by Ministop to conduct regular inspections. With nearly half of the stores in Osaka Prefecture, the prefectural government said it plans to conduct on-site inspections at three stores within its jurisdiction to ascertain the situation.
Japan Today
a day ago
- Business
- Japan Today
1,600 Ministop stores in Japan suspend deli sales over fake expiry dates
Photo taken on Monday shows a sign at a Ministop convenience store in Tokyo indicating that it sells onigiri rice balls prepared on site. The operator of the Japanese convenience store chain Ministop said Monday it has suspended the sale of deli items at some 1,600 stores as expiry dates of certain foods prepared by its kitchens have been faked. While no health issues have been reported, Ministop Co, a subsidiary of Japanese retail giant Aeon Co., halted sales of onigiri rice balls and bento lunches from Aug. 9 and other deli items from Monday. "We sincerely apologize to customers who purchased handmade onigiri and bento (lunch boxes), as well as other concerned parties, for the significant inconvenience caused," Ministop said in a statement. The firm found that some store workers extended expiry dates by delaying labels for one to two hours after items were prepared in in-house kitchens, while others removed expiry stickers and replaced them with false dates. Operating 1,818 stores nationwide as of July, Ministop is one of Japan's major convenience store chains, though it trails far behind the top three, including Seven-Eleven with 21,770 outlets. The misconduct has been discovered at 23 stores in Tokyo, Saitama, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures. © KYODO
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Business
- The Mainichi
1,600 Ministop stores in Japan suspend deli sales over fake expiry dates
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The operator of the Japanese convenience store chain Ministop said Monday it has suspended the sale of deli items at some 1,600 stores as expiry dates of certain foods prepared by its kitchens have been faked. While no health issues have been reported, Ministop Co., a subsidiary of Japanese retail giant Aeon Co., halted sales of onigiri rice balls and bento lunches from Aug. 9 and other deli items from Monday. "We sincerely apologize to customers who purchased handmade onigiri and bento (lunch boxes), as well as other concerned parties, for the significant inconvenience caused," Ministop said in a statement. The firm found that some store workers extended expiry dates by delaying labels for one to two hours after items were prepared in in-house kitchens, while others removed expiry stickers and replaced them with false dates. Operating 1,818 stores nationwide as of July, Ministop is one of Japan's major convenience store chains, though it trails far behind the top three, including Seven-Eleven with 21,770 outlets. The misconduct has been discovered at 23 stores in Tokyo, Saitama, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures.
11-06-2025
- Business
71 Firms Apply for Additional Stockpiled Rice Sales
News from Japan Jun 11, 2025 21:27 (JST) Tokyo, June 11 (Jiji Press)--Japan's agriculture ministry said Wednesday that it has received applications from 71 companies to purchase government-stockpiled rice to be additionally released under no-bid contracts, after it started accepting offers the same day. The figure was unveiled by agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi. The latest round of applications for discretionary contracts will cover a total of some 120,000 tons of stockpiled rice produced in 2021--consisting 100,000 tons to be additionally released and 20,000 tons that has remained unsold since the ministry started accepting applications from small and midsize supermarkets in late May. For the latest round, major retailer Aeon Co. applied to buy 5,000 tons of stockpiled rice, planning to sell it mainly at discount stores. Major convenience store chain operator Seven-Eleven Japan Co. is seeking to conclude a 50-ton contract. Once the limit for 2021 rice is reached, the ministry is expected to newly release stockpiled rice cropped in 2020 for the first time, planning to additionally release 100,000 tons of rice. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
27-05-2025
- Business
Applications for Govt-Stockpiled Rice Seen Hitting Limit
Tokyo, May 27 (Jiji Press)--Applications to sell government-stockpiled rice under no-bid contracts are now expected to reach the upper limit of 200,000 tons for rice harvested in 2022, the Japanese agriculture ministry said Tuesday. The ministry began accepting applications only on Monday, and it will now suspend accepting applications for both 2022 rice and 2021 rice, 100,000 tons of which is planned to be released. Amid elevated rice prices in the market, retailers have rushed to procure stockpiled rice, which the government will sell at lower prices. The ministry will resume accepting applications only from smaller supermarket operators and rice stores as early as Friday, agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi said. As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, the ministry had received applications from 33 companies for a total of 157,073 tons of stockpiled rice. The companies include Aeon Co., which applied for the largest amount, of 20,000 tons, and Ito-Yokado Co. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
