Japan’s grocery industry is one of the most structured and demanding markets in the world. Every shelf is carefully planned, every product trusted. Shoppers expect fresh food, safe supply chains, and exceptional service — and they rarely forgive mistakes.
Behind that precision are a few large retail groups that dominate Japan’s food market. They run thousands of stores, employ hundreds of thousands of people, and set national trends in private label, online grocery, and sustainability.
The top 5 grocery stores in Japan 2025 show how strategy, logistics, and local culture can shape one of Asia’s most competitive retail sectors.
How We Defined the Top 5 Grocery Stores in Japan 2025
To determine Japan’s leading supermarket chains, this ranking uses four consistent measures:
Annual revenue based on the latest official results (FY2024 or FY2025).
Branch network size within Japan only.
Employee scale, representing operational strength.
Business strategy, including private label, technology, and store format diversity.
The result is a clear view of which retailers truly lead Japan’s supermarket landscape — not just in perception, but in measurable performance.
1 | AEON — Japan’s Largest Retail Group
AEON stands at the top of the top 5 grocery stores in Japan 2025. It is Japan’s largest retail conglomerate by operating revenue, with food retail at the core of its business.
Operating Revenue (FY2024): about ¥10.1 trillion (consolidated, year ended February 2025).
Employees: approximately 570,000 across group operations.
Stores: over 2,500 food-focused stores nationwide under banners such as AEON, MaxValu, and AEON Style.
AEON’s structure covers nearly every retail format — from suburban hypermarkets to compact city stores. Its Topvalu private label accounts for roughly a quarter of total grocery turnover.
The group’s strength lies in its integrated supply chain. It operates regional distribution centres and cold-chain hubs across Japan to guarantee freshness at scale. The company continues to expand online grocery and “AEON Next” delivery networks.
In 2025, AEON remains the most influential supermarket operator in Japan. Its challenge is balancing rising logistics and energy costs against consumer price expectations in a low-growth economy.
2 | Seven & i Holdings — Ito-Yokado and York
Seven & i Holdings is best known for 7-Eleven, but its supermarket business remains vital to Japanese households. The Ito-Yokado and York banners anchor its food operations.
Group Net Sales (FY2024): approximately ¥12 trillion (year ended February 2025).
Supermarket Stores: around 600 (Ito-Yokado and York combined).
Employees (group): roughly 140,000 in Japan, with several tens of thousands in supermarket operations.
Ito-Yokado stores serve dense residential zones with full-line grocery and daily goods. York operates smaller, value-driven supermarkets focused on weekly family shops.
Seven & i’s strength is its multi-format synergy. Data and logistics are shared between convenience and supermarket divisions, allowing precise demand forecasting and waste control.
In 2025, the company is refining its store portfolio, focusing on profitability and brand clarity. Even with restructuring underway, Seven & i remains central to any discussion of the top 5 grocery stores in Japan 2025 because of its reach and innovation.
3 | Life Corporation — The Fresh-Food Specialist
Life Corporation is Japan’s largest independent supermarket operator. It dominates the Kanto (Tokyo area) and Kansai (Osaka area) markets through everyday food retail focused on freshness and trust.
Operating Revenue (FY2023): about ¥809.7 billion.
Stores: 289 in Kanto and 152 in Kansai (total 441 as of early 2025).
Employees: approximately 50,000.
Life’s model is built on food quality. It runs its own distribution system, direct-procurement centres for produce, and advanced temperature-controlled logistics. Its stores feature bakery, deli, and seafood counters with in-house preparation.
The company also operates an expanding online supermarket that uses dedicated fulfilment centres in Tokyo and Osaka.
By maintaining high standards and community focus, Life Corporation has become one of the most respected retailers in Japan. Within the top 5 grocery stores in Japan 2025, Life represents the benchmark for urban fresh excellence.
4 | Seiyu — Everyday Low Price, Reinvented
Seiyu is one of Japan’s oldest supermarket names, known for its everyday-low-price approach. In early 2025, ownership officially shifted from KKR and Walmart to Trial Holdings, marking a major moment in Japan’s grocery sector.
Annual Revenue (2023): around ¥665 billion.
Stores: roughly 330 – 400 nationwide.
Employees: about 35,000.
Under its new structure, Seiyu will integrate Trial’s data-driven discount model with its own national store base. The focus is efficiency: lean supply chains, self-checkout systems, and digital pricing tools to reduce cost per basket.
Seiyu’s heritage lies in reliable pricing and straightforward store layouts. Now, with new ownership, it is modernising while keeping its value-oriented DNA intact.
In 2025, Seiyu represents transformation in action. Among the top 5 grocery stores in Japan 2025, it is the one evolving fastest to meet the new discount era.
5 | Yaoko — Regional Strength with a Human Touch
Yaoko may be smaller than the national groups, but it has built one of the strongest reputations in Japan’s supermarket industry. Based in Saitama Prefecture, it operates across the Kanto region and parts of Chubu.
Operating Revenue (FY2025/3): approximately ¥736 billion.
Stores: around 190.
Employees: about 17,000.
Yaoko’s stores are known for their warmth and order. Its prepared-food counters — bento boxes, sushi, and side dishes — are an essential part of its identity.
The company emphasises community involvement and staff culture. Managers have autonomy to adjust assortments for local tastes, giving every store a sense of belonging.
While smaller than AEON or Seven & i, Yaoko delivers strong margins and steady expansion. In the top 5 grocery stores in Japan 2025, it proves that regional excellence still thrives beside national scale.
The Rest of Japan’s Grocery Field
Several other supermarket groups remain highly competitive, though smaller in size or scope:
OK Store — the Kanto discount specialist known for its simple layout and strict everyday-low-price policy.
Maruetsu — part of the United Super Markets Holdings alliance, offering dense Tokyo coverage and convenient late-night shopping.
York-Benimaru — another Seven & i banner with strong presence in Tohoku and northern Kanto.
Don Quijote (Pan Pacific International) — a hybrid discount chain increasing its grocery share.
Costco Japan — membership warehouse expanding across major regions, serving bulk-shopping households.
These brands contribute significantly to Japan’s overall grocery landscape, but the five main groups dominate total sales and influence.
The Five Trends Driving Japan’s Grocery Market in 2025
1 – Private Label Confidence
Private labels are no longer viewed as cheaper substitutes. AEON’s Topvalu and Life’s Smile Life range now rival national brands in quality and trust.
2 – E-Grocery Acceleration
Online grocery remains under 5 percent of total sales, but it is growing fast. Chains like AEON and Life Corporation have invested in temperature-controlled delivery systems and app integration.
3 – Labor Efficiency and Automation
Japan’s aging workforce pushes retailers to introduce self-checkout, robotic replenishment, and LED-based energy savings.
4 – Regional Identity Matters
Even as consolidation continues, regional operators like Yaoko and OK Store keep customer loyalty through community presence and local assortments.
5 – Corporate Restructuring and Partnerships
Ownership changes — such as Seiyu joining Trial Holdings — show that Japan’s grocery industry is entering a new phase focused on technology and cost optimisation.
Why These Five Chains Lead
The top 5 grocery stores in Japan 2025 are not just large — they are adaptive.
AEON defines scale and logistics.
Seven & i balances urban convenience and family grocery.
Life Corporation elevates freshness and store quality.
Seiyu is rebuilding the discount model for a data-driven decade.
Yaoko embodies regional strength and human service.
Together, they employ more than 800,000 people, operate close to 4,000 supermarket outlets, and generate the majority of Japan’s formal grocery revenue.
What Comes Next
Japan’s food retail sector remains stable but saturated. Growth now depends on efficiency and differentiation. The next competitive battleground will be data, automation, and sustainability — reducing waste while keeping service levels high.
For global suppliers and investors, understanding the top 5 grocery stores in Japan 2025 means understanding how the Japanese consumer thinks: detail-oriented, loyal, and demanding. The lessons here travel far beyond Japan’s borders.
