FTC launches probe into Seven-Eleven for restricting bargain sales

Saturday 21st February, 06:38 AM JST

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14 Comments

kokuryu at 06:45 AM JST - 21st February

Personally I think it is better that they cycle the food. Here in the US the 7-11's fresh food is usually only good for a day or two after it is put out, and is removed and replaced on a daily basis. I would not want to risk getting sick from eating food with marginal expiration dates.
NuckinFutz at 07:34 AM JST - 21st February

How about providing it to homeless people (withing say 24 hours of expiration so safety is maintained)? While there is a financial loss to the store operator, the food is not being wasted and someone who really needs a meal stands a chance of getting one.
some14some at 08:09 AM JST - 21st February

How about providing it to homeless people (withing say 24 hours of expiration so safety is maintained)? While there is a financial loss to the store operator, the food is not being wasted and someone who really needs a meal stands a chance of getting one.

Good suggestion but not workable in Japan, greeds of owners is same as needs of homeless.
cow76 at 08:44 AM JST - 21st February

How about providing it to homeless people (withing say 24 hours of expiration so safety is maintained)? While there is a financial loss to the store operator, the food is not being wasted and someone who really needs a meal stands a chance of getting one.

Unfortunately, giving food to homeless people takes times and decreases profits (homeless people occasionally buy bento - reduced sales). We're not living under socialism yet, comrade.
goosage at 10:28 AM JST - 21st February

Hurray for the FTC in dealing with the bentoes (always wanted to add an e). Beware all chain stores - you're next. The FTC will be in your trash!
herefornow at 11:48 AM JST - 21st February

Controlling prices in Japan? Never.
TokyoGas at 02:53 PM JST - 21st February

Seven-Eleven Japan requires its members to pay the head office 43 percent of the gross profit

Wow. Does that seem high?
Bento at 06:07 PM JST - 21st February

the out of date food is given to the homeless via the traditional route..the garbage.
VoXman at 06:50 PM JST - 21st February

I have a friend who just gave up his Lawson's franchise after 15 years of running it. He said the profit margins are so slim and you can buy from outside sources to get a better price. Funny thing is he said, "Thats not free enterprise". Whoever said Japan was about free enterprise.
presto345 at 09:30 PM JST - 21st February

Here in the US the 7-11's fresh food is usually only good for a day or two after it is put out, and is removed and replaced on a daily basis.

Probably similar to operations here in Japan, but 2 days is of course too long for a box lunch. It seems reasonable to me that a discount is offered when the suggested expiry time approaches. Nothing wrong with that. What's the damage to the 7-11 image? Competing with supermarkets? So what? Seven-Eleven image? Their image will quickly become the one of wasting consumable food in a world where millions are starving and bullying operators. They won't see me in their stores anytime soon.
stipend at 12:10 AM JST - 22nd February

Is 7-11 head office full of idiots? Noone remember the post war years? Life without food? That's sad.

"To waste rice is to waste life" -at least it once was.

They won't see me in their stores anytime soon.

Right, watch your sales drop guys! The Sev on my street is direct opposite Lawson, and Family Mart's not 100m away. Need an edge? Looking to help society? Organize it! ..educated idiots.

In how many North American cities have independent restaurateurs joined together to collect and deliver unspoiled food on a nightly basis to their local soup kitchens? So show us how big you are, 7-11 Japan!

Convenience stores have an association too. It formed when government started thinking they were energy wasteful and was looking to restrict their operating hours to cut CO2 (..really). It's criminal tho how long the food waste has been going on. And can the homeless get it? Usually no. It's kept inside or under lock and key. And isn't it pulled every 8 hours?

I like the cheap nachos there but I can give that up.
AlfGarnett at 12:37 AM JST - 22nd February

Waste not want not , like.

Used to have them 7-11 in England , but they was too much rip off , not surprised they rip off the franchise people. Don't sound like nice people to do business with, know what i mean?
sk4ek at 05:06 AM JST - 22nd February

There are actually several NPOs working in Japan to deal with the problem of retail food waste--collecting, if not bento, then other items, either directly from the stores or from manufacturers, and distributing them, mostly to the dozens of small nursing homes and other facilities that are finding their food budgets increasingly impacted by reductions in government payments for elder care.

Unfortunately, I can't recall the name of the ones I've seen working in the Tokyo area, otherwise I'd put out a call here for people to support them...
Yelnats at 02:53 PM JST - 23rd February

I see waribiki (discount stickers) on food in all sorts of food stores, so why not at the convenience stores?