Japan’s Famima To Challenge Tesco For US Local Market

We reported recently the intentions of Brit retailer Tesco to introduce their local style supermarkets to the US. They may have a little competition, Food & Drink Europe suggests.

FamilyMart, a Japanese-owned supermarket chain, has already opened two premium convenience stores in California – and hopes to add another 248 by the end of 2009. The stores have been opened under the Famima!! banner and promise to offer a “community lifestyle experience” to the West Coast, offering a cross between delicatessen, quick-service restaurant and traditional convenience store:

The shops also provide a banking service, a stationary department, newsstand and internet terminals. And they stock fashionable Japanese delicacies, such as sushi, noodles and a selection of imported groceries to appeal to middle-income shoppers.

Tesco to face Japanese competition in the US