Retail

Central Group and Signa Holding plan to develop the site around Selfridges' flagship department store at London's Oxford Street. (Photo courtesy of Selfridges)
Retail

Thailand's Central Group bets on Europe with Selfridges bid

Tourists want luxury shopping destinations, says CEO of retail giant

17 February 2022
This colorful collection of chocolates by Mother House is made from select Indonesian cacao beans whose trees are grown among other plants to tout biodiversity.
Business trends

Be my virtuous valentine? Japan gets taste of sustainable chocolate

Eco-friendly ingredients and delivery drive latest products for annual holiday

12 February 2022
Still in the driver's seat: Natarajan Chandrasekaran has been named executive chairman of Tata Sons for five more years.
Companies

Tata Sons sticks with Chandrasekaran as chief

Executive chairman with no family ties gets 5 more years as Indian group branches out

12 February 2022
GLP has worked on logistics centers in the greater Tokyo region and looks to expand its scope nationwide over the next two to three years.
Transportation

GLP to plow $9bn into Japan logistics with largest fund of its kind

E-commerce boom and low interest rates spark investor interest

10 February 2022
Central Retail plans to invest 100 billion baht over the next five years to expand its business. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Retail

Thailand's Central Retail eyes metaverse in $3bn drive to double sales

Bangkok-listed company pours investment into both real and virtual stores

9 February 2022
Suning.com shares fell close to the maximum 10% limit in early selling in Shenzhen on Monday, the first trading session since the company's loss alert on Jan. 28. 
China debt crunch

Suning.com investors spooked by warning of $7bn loss

Chinese retailer takes hit from troubled joint venture with Evergrande

7 February 2022
Sogo & Seibu will move its headquarters into the Seibu Ikebukuro store in Tokyo. (Photo by Harue Matsushima)
Retail

Sogo & Seibu to leave current Tokyo headquarters to cut costs

Department store operator slims down ahead of sale

4 February 2022
Seven &i's Seibu & Sogo department store unit has struggled to deal with the growing popularity of online shopping. Activist investors say this has hurt the parent's share value. (Source photo by Nikkei)
Retail

7-Eleven parent to sell Sogo & Seibu department store business

Seven & i Holdings eyes breakup deal under U.S. activist pressure

1 February 2022
Shinsegae Group Vice Chairman Chung Yong-jin, shown in his New Year's video message, caused a stir in South Korea by posting an anti-communist slogan on Instagram. (Photo courtesy of Shinsegae Group)
Comment

Retail mogul's anti-communist Instagram posts roil South Korea

Controversy caused by Shinsegae Group heir echoes deepening social divide

30 January 2022
The registers will accept only cashless payment methods, including credit cards, e-money cards and QR codes. (Photo courtesy of 7-Eleven Japan)
Retail

7-Eleven takes touchless to next level with hologram self-checkouts

New air-screen registers to start trial run in Tokyo

29 January 2022
Japan's Seven & i Holdings faces a call for 'bold, structural reform' from a U.S. investor.
Retail

7-Eleven operator under pressure as activist fund demands overhaul

Call to split business follows similar move at Toshiba

26 January 2022
Customers line up at the first "Omusubi" rice ball shop in Central, Hong Kong's financial district. (Photo by Takeshi Kihara)
Food & Beverage

Hong Kong: Japanese food and retail chains find gateway to China

Rice ball seller has over 100 stores in city as it looks to greater market

24 January 2022
A Ministop convenience store in Manila. The number of Ministops in the Philippines has slowly declined in recent years. (Photo by Cliff Venzon)
Retail

Ministop Philippines to rebrand as Japanese partner exits

Convenience stores will expand ready-to-eat menu, offer new products

24 January 2022
Myanmar Plaza, a major shopping mall in Yangon, remains virtually deserted after a violent security crackdown on protesters in late November led to a boycott.
Myanmar Crisis

Two-month boycott of Myanmar mall after harsh protest response

Consumers band together because of violent excesses of security guards

24 January 2022
Stream article image
22 January 2022
Consumers shop at a new Don Don Donki store that opened in Bangkok, in February 2019. (Photo by Kosaku Mimura)
Retail

Japan retailers Nitori and Donki speed Southeast Asian push

Expansion comes as department stores fade from region due to e-commerce

21 January 2022
Startup Deep Science last year raised 100 million yuan as it pivoted into virtual livestreaming. (Image courtesy Deep Science)
Media & Entertainment

Virtual hosts take China livestream spotlight amid crackdown

Influencers’ tax troubles open door for automated substitutes

18 January 2022
A shopping mall in Manila. Philippines' retail sector is dominated by local players, such as family-owned conglomerates SM Investments and Gokongwei Group's Robinsons Retail Holdings. (Photo by Kimberly Dela Cruz)
Retail

Philippines eases Asia's toughest FDI rules with new retail entry law

Backers say move boosts competition while critics call it 'industry killer'

17 January 2022
The primary purpose of Showfields shops is to convey retailers' brand visions to consumers.
Retail

New York's Showfields will bring 'immersive' retail experience to Japan

Arrival of crossover pioneer aims to advance online-offline integration

17 January 2022
The operator of Uniqlo stores will offer among the most generous compensation packages in Japan. (Photo by Tetsuya Kitayama)
Retail

Uniqlo dangles $8.8m salaries to draw talent in Big Tech showdown

Apparel chain operator seeks midcareer hires as it battles Amazon, other tech giants

16 January 2022
Uniqlo's flagship store in Ginza was renovated in September, but sales in Japan remain sluggish amid the pandemic. (Source photo by Shihoko Nakaoka)
Retail

Uniqlo parent warns of COVID uncertainty after posting record Q1

Fast Retailing sees weak China sales until at least February, and rising costs

13 January 2022
Japan is home to nearly 70% of Yogibo stores worldwide.
Business deals

Cozy fit: Beanbag chair maker Yogibo bought by Japanese distributor

Web-Shark looks to bring successful sales strategy to big developing markets

13 January 2022
A Bosideng International store in Guangzhou: jackets and coats by the Chinese brand have been especially popular among the country's influencers. (Photo by Yusuke Hinata)
Retail

China's down jacket fever sends feather prices soaring

Frigid winter and changing styles feed demand for warm but lightweight outerwear

12 January 2022
Uniqlo is interested in synergies between e-commerce and its physical operations, such as through shipping online orders out of brick-and-mortar stocks.
Technology

Uniqlo parent expands automated-warehouse network into China

Fast Retailing eyes quicker, cheaper deliveries to keep pace with e-commerce boom

11 January 2022
An Aeon mall in Kawaguchi, near Tokyo. (Photo by Makoto Okada)
Climate Change

Retailer Aeon to use 100% renewable energy at 160-plus Japan malls

Group accounts for almost 1% of nation's electricity consumption

11 January 2022