By Taihei Ishikawa

Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

Ito-Yokado Co. will focus more on the food supermarket business in an effort to rebuild, its parent company York Holdings Co. said at a strategy briefing in Tokyo on Wednesday.

It was the first such briefing since York Holdings became a part of a U.S. investment fund group.

As Ito-Yokado's performance has been sluggish, York Holdings plans to transfer Ito-Yokado's specialty store businesses, including its clothing, stationery and toy businesses, to a York Holdings group company, and turn Ito-Yokado from a supermarket that sells various products to one that mainly sells food.

Starting in fiscal 2027, Ito-Yokado's specialty store businesses, as well as its tenant management business, are to be transferred to the York Holdings group company. Ito-Yokado will focus on selling food and pharmaceutical products. It will continue collaborating with Seven & i Holdings Co. in such areas as product development and continue selling Seven & i's private-label products.

Regarding York-Benimaru Co., a group company that operates food supermarkets mainly in Fukushima Prefecture, York Holdings will consider opening more outlets in other areas, particularly in the Kanto region.

York Holdings also said it would unveil a new mid-term management plan next fiscal year. The company aims to list its shares by around 2028.

"Until now, we were expected to grow at the same pace as convenience stores," York Holdings President Seiichiro Ishibashi told The Yomiuri Shimbun. "Going forward, we will grow at our own pace and focus on investing in food."

York Holdings was set up last year as an intermediate holding company to manage about 30 companies under Seven & i, including Ito-Yokado, York-Benimaru, The Loft Co. and Akachan Honpo Co.

U.S. investment fund Bain Capital acquired a 60% stake and is leading the restructuring. Seven & i and the founding family retain a 40% stake and will maintain a certain level of involvement.

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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.

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September 08, 2025 05:16 ET (09:16 GMT)

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