FamilyMart, UNY merge, creating Japan's second-largest convenience store chain

@Reckless: It was most likely "Seicomart", which is Hokkaido-based. http://www.seicomart.co.jp/english/our_history.html

Educator60 "Was the government involved in this merger? "

I most definitely hope there was some sort of governmental review and approval. Oligopolistic competition is common enough here, allowing the likes of Softbank, AU and Docomo to gouge everyone, and it seems to be happening in more and more industries.

@Ampas,

Have you noticed that wherever you go prices only vary by one or two yen, or that like products, regardless of manufacturer, like drinks are basically the same price?

Collusion amongst companies is the norm in JLand.

There is no oversight by JGov, no anti-monopoly laws.

http://www.spoon-tamago.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/FU-holdings.png

Great logo!

I am so HAPPY that business and the government is working 24 hours a day to seal a merger that will reduce competition and probably increase prices (as there is just less competition). Yeah, Yeah, Yeah! Not to mention a few business managers who are kicked to the side of the curb.

My local Circle K is so freakin' loud. I don't know whether it's just that branch's policy or a corporate thing, but they shout SOMETHING every minute, at the top of their voices. It might be "We've just finished cooking some chicken" or "How about some 'o-den' boiled shoes?"

Let me shop in peace?

Plop! The pond ripples

Dreary sprat gobbled right up

Lawson is leapfrogged

Lawsons will not be denied!

so at a rough estimate, 1 conbini per 2,000 people (of all ages)… ???? who used to be served by mom and pop-style shops I suppose… the NEW traditional Japan….

Time to buy their stocks,

TheRatSEP. 01, 2016 - 06:28PM JST I am so HAPPY that business and the government is working 24 hours a day to seal a merger that will reduce competition and probably increase prices (as there is just less competition).

I'd normally be right there with you, but honestly, most Japanese conbini serve alright food, but I've never had anything from a Sunkus or a Circle K that didn't make me feel queasy within a few minutes of eating it. They're like, the American approach to a convenience store. That and when I lived very close to a Sunkus they actually added a surcharge for me paying my bills there because they weren't part of the right network or something, so I had to go further than my nearest convenience store to pay my bills without paying extra. Frankly, screw 'em, I'm glad they're getting bought out. Hopefully some Familymart leadership will force them to get their acts together.