I don’t think I’ve ever been to Japan without having stopped at Family Mart—usually late at night when most shops have closed. My favorite Family Mart has to be the one at Daikanyama T-site
Family Mart is like a Japanese 7-11, but way cooler—because of the Japanese magazines, the Crunky chocolate, the packed meals, and the Muji stationery!
Now, Family Mart, Japan’s largest convenience store chain, has opened its first branch in the Philippines at Glorietta 3—without the stuff I mentioned above. But it does offer a lot of other options not found in your typical convenience store.
Brought in by Stores Specialists, Inc. and Ayala Land Inc. together with foreign partners Itochu Corporation and Family Mart Corporation, Family Mart is set to open 40 stores this year across Metro Manila.
Stores at Glorietta 5, Ayala Avenue MRT Station 3, and Exchange Regency in Ortigas are currently in progress, while Eastwood City, Pasay City, and Cavite are also in the works. The brand aims to open 300 stores in the next five years.
Some of their offerings include healthy fruits and salads
Sandwiches
Sushi plates
Cha Soba
Katsudon in the cute packaging
Chicken Teriyaki roll
Japanese snacks
and drinks
Plus Filipino favorites, like Pancit Canton and Malabon
Fried chicken meal and fries, and so much more!
During the opening at Glorietta 3, Family Mart Executives observed the customary Kagami Biraki, where they opened a cask of sake as a sign of celebration and good luck.
Participating were (from L-R): Isamu Nakayama (President, FamilyMart Japan), Fernando Zobel de Ayala (Chairman, Ayala Land), Anton Huang (President, Philippine FamilyMart), Junji Ueda (Chairman and CEO, FamilyMart Japan), Yoshihisa Aoki (Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer and President Food Company, Itochu Corporation), Masaaki Kosaka (Managing Director and Managing Executive Officer, FamilyMart Japan), Tony Aquino (President and CEO, Ayala Land), Kenichiro Koreeda (Deputy Head, Japanese Embassy)
Fernando Zobel de Ayala (Chairman, Ayala Land) and Anton Huang (President, Philippine FamilyMart)
Crickette Tantoco, Tony Aquino (President and CEO, Ayala Land), Zenaida Tantoco (President, Rustan Commercial Corporation)
Jaime Pineda and Catherine Huang
The Unilever team: Terri Sy, Freida De-Guzman, Betsey Isla, Ralph Umali, Pat Gan, Trishia Cu, Clint Raypon, Elo Siccion, Fredy Ong, Carl Cruz, Janmar Roque
Isamu Nakayama (President, FamilyMart Japan), Bobby Dy (EVP and COO, Ayala Land), Junji Ueda (Chairman and CEO, FamilyMart Japan), Anton Huang (President, Philippine FamilyMart), Junichi Yamashita (Chairman, Philippine FamilyMart)
Originally published at Chuvaness.com. You can comment here or there.