Japan: Seven-Eleven could allow closure in year-end and holiday period

In a petition submitted to the company, c-store owners' group called for permission to close during those dates amidst severe labor shortages drop in sales.

A group of convenience store owners in Japan asked Seven-Eleven Japan Co. for permission to close during the year-end and New Year holiday period, reports Jiji Press. The applicants put forward severe labor shortages and drop in sales during the period.

"Sales are the worst on New Year's Day, and there's a lot of food waste. I really want to close," a Seven-Eleven franchisee store owner told in press conference in Tokyo.

50 stores directly operated by Seven-Eleven will suspend operations in Tokyo on a trial basis for New Year's Day.

The company had planned to have franchise stores make up half that number, but discard the idea as it would be too much burden on franchisees.