Ministop
{{Short description|Japanese convenience store chain}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Ministop Co., Ltd.
| image_size = 260px
| image_caption = A Ministop store in Yokohama, Japan
| native_name = ミニストップ株式会社
| romanized_name = Minisutoppu kabushiki gaisha
| logo = MINISTOP logo.svg
| type = Public
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1980|5|21}}
| location_city = AEON Tower, Mihama-ku, Chiba
| locations = 2,045 stores (Jan 31 2023)
| key_people =
| industry = Retail (convenience stores)
| num_employees = 938 (2018){{cite web|title=Corporate Profile|url=http://www.ministop.co.jp/english/about/outline.html|website=Ministop Co., Ltd.|access-date=31 August 2018}}
| parent = AEON Group (53.8%):
| products =
| revenue =
| homepage = [http://www.ministop.co.jp ministop.co.jp]
| logo_size = 150px
| logo_caption = Ministop's logo, the "Housemark"
| image = Bentendori, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture 231-0007, Japan.jpg
| footnotes =
| location_country = Japan
| traded_as = {{tyo|9946}}
}}
{{Nihongo|Ministop Co., Ltd.|ミニストップ株式会社|Minisutoppu Kabushiki-gaisha}} ({{tyo|9946}}), a member of AEON, operates the Ministop convenience store franchise chain in Japan. Unlike most other convenience stores in Japan, Ministop stores feature a kitchen that prepares sandwiches, snacks and take out bento boxes on demand, and has a seating area where customers can sit down and eat immediately.
Products
The usual Japanese convenience store goods are available, such as magazines, manga comic books, soft drinks, contraceptives, onigiri; services include bill payment, photocopying, ticket purchase for events and ATM access. Ministop also has its own unique brand of fast food. The menu varies according to season and periodical promotions. A typical selection might include hot dogs, sandwiches, frozen desserts such as their flagship soft serve ice cream, kariman and chūkaman—baozi-style buns with various fillings.
International operations
As of 2024, Ministop operates 164 stores in Vietnam, and is currently the only operation outside Japan.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
Former operations
Ministop also operated in China and Kazakhstan.{{cite web | url=https://www.ministop.co.jp/english/ring.html | title=The MINISTOP circle is finding new friends around the world | access-date=16 November 2013}}{{cite web | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/03/15/business/ministop-plans-kazakhstan-shops/#.UobTTL-lf-k | title=Ministop plans Kazakhstan shops | work=The Japan Times | date=15 May 2012 | access-date=16 November 2013}}
= South Korea =
The first Ministop store in South Korea opened in November 1990 in Mok-dong,{{Cite web|url=https://www.jobkorea.co.kr/company/1532372|title=한국미니스톱(주) 기업정보 {{!}} 잡코리아|website=한국미니스톱(주) 기업정보 {{!}} 잡코리아|language=ko|access-date=2020-04-15}} as a joint-venture with Daesang Corporation; Ministop bought Daesang's stake in the venture in 2003. As of October 2017, there were 2418 operating Ministop stores.https://minstop.com/
In January 2022, Lotte Corporation acquired the entire stake of Ministop Korea Co. for 313.37 billion won ($263 million). All the Ministop store were gradually converted to 7-Eleven after acquisition.{{cite news |last1=Yoon-seo |first1=Lee |title=7-Eleven speeds up converting Ministop stores |url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221221000537 |access-date=1 March 2024 |work=The Korea Herald |date=21 December 2022 |language=en}}
= Philippines =
{{main|Uncle John's (store)}}
Image:Ministopphilippines.jpg, Philippines]]
In December of 2000, the Japan-based convenience store chain Ministop made its way to the Philippines, being brought to the country by Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. in partnership with Ministop Japan and Mitsubishi Corporation.{{cite news |last1=Gonzales |first1=Iris |title=Gokongwei Group to rebrand Ministop |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/01/25/2156067/gokongwei-group-rebrand-ministop |access-date=14 December 2022 |work=The Philippine Star |date=25 January 2022}} In January 2022, Robinsons Group assumed full ownership of the Ministop business in the Philippines with 460 branches.{{cite web |title=Convenience store chain Ministop pulls out of South Korea and Philippines |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Retail/Convenience-store-chain-Ministop-pulls-out-of-South-Korea-and-Philippines |website=Nikkei Asia |access-date=24 January 2022}} It was announced that the stores would be rebranded as Uncle John's, after the flagship fried chicken product sold in the Philippine market since 2006.{{cite news |title=Say hello to 'Uncle John's' |url=https://mb.com.ph/2022/10/21/say-hello-to-uncle-johns/ |access-date=14 December 2022 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=21 October 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Ministop}}
- {{Official website|http://www.ministop.co.jp}} {{in lang|ja}}
- [http://www.ministop.com.ph/ Ministop Philippines (Robinsons Convenience Stores, Inc.)]
{{Convenience stores}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Companies based in Chiba Prefecture
Category:Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Category:Convenience stores of Japan
Category:Convenience stores of the Philippines
Category:Retail companies of Japan
Category:Retail companies established in 1980
{{Portal|Companies|South Korea}}
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