Major Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote Co. is interested in acquiring supermarket chain Seiyu GK from U.S. retail giant Walmart Inc., Koji Ohara, president of Don Quijote, said.
"If [Walmart] really intends to sell it, I have an interest in it," Ohara said during a business briefing session his company held in Tokyo on Monday. Depending on the conditions, it is possible that Don Quijote will become a major party in negotiations with Walmart.
Ohara said: "Seiyu has many stores in places where land lots are hard to acquire now. If it is really to be on sale, I'd like to examine the case in detail."
He declined to talk about whether there have been negotiations with Walmart, only saying, "I know only what's been reported in media." Ohara did not disclose, either, how far the detailed examination is going.
Don Quijote made midsize supermarket chain operator Nagasakiya Co. an affiliate in 2007, and reconstructed its management by turning some Nagasakiya stores into Don Quijote brand stores and through other efforts.
With another affiliate, FamilyMart UNY Holdings Co., Don Quijote has opened some new-style stores. These are converted from UNY stores so the way of displaying products and the products themselves are the same as at Don Quijote stores. Business has been good with the six stores that have been converted this year. The company plans to convert about 20 more UNY stores in 2019.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
