United Super Markets Holdings
Basic Information
- Stock Code
- 3222
- Industry
- Retail
- Category Detail
- General Merchandise & Food Retailers
- Prefecture
- Tokyo
- Establishment Year
- March 2015
- Listing Year
- March 2015
- Official Website
- https://www.usmh.co.jp/
- TSE Information
- TSE Information
- Yahoo! Finance
- Yahoo! Finance
- Other Companies
- Halows, Daikokuten Shokusan, JM Holdings, Ekos, Retail Partners, Life Corporation, Max Valu Tokai, Axial Retailing, Yaoko, Arx, Baro Holdings, Belc
Overview
United Super Markets Holdings is a holding company established in 2015 for a supermarket alliance based in the Tokyo metropolitan area, with Maruetsu, Kasumi, Max Valu Kanto, and Inageya as subsidiaries, and it belongs to the Aeon Group.
Current Situation
United Super Markets Holdings achieved consolidated sales of approximately 690.5 billion yen in the fiscal year ending February 2024, continuing to grow as one of the largest food supermarket groups in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Its main business is supermarkets, operating 661 stores in the Kanto region centered on Maruetsu and Kasumi. The group as a whole is promoting the introduction of IT such as the digital platform 'Ignica' to improve operational efficiency and customer service. In 2024, it made Inageya a wholly-owned subsidiary to expand its store network. It is also focusing on sustainability, reducing environmental impact and introducing smart payment services to improve customer convenience. Aeon Market Investment is a major shareholder, and under a stable financial base, it has set a strategy aiming for sales of 1 trillion yen and 1,000 stores in the medium to long term amid industry reorganization. By investing in new technologies and diversifying store brands, it addresses diverse customer needs and strengthens its competitive edge in the intensely competitive food retail market.
Trivia
Interesting Facts
- Subsidiary Maruetsu operates approximately 335 stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area as a major player.
- 'Ignica' is a proprietary digital platform deployed group-wide.
- Full acquisition of Inageya on November 30, 2024, a recent major M&A.
- Scan&Go payments issue cards not requiring smartphones to expand customer base.
- Deploys AI-powered ad delivery systems in stores.
- Aeon Market Investment owns over half of the shares.
- Joint holding company structure maintains proprietary brands while pursuing management efficiency.
- Largest food supermarket alliance in Kanto's 1 prefecture and 6 counties.
- Early introduction of smartphone-based cashless payment services.
- Builds new business models with digital signage and online delivery.
- Addresses wide customer segments with diverse price ranges and store brands.
- Deep ties with multiple major food wholesalers.
- During COVID-19, changed annual shareholders' meeting venue to Ibaraki Prefecture.
- Positioned as one of Aeon's intermediate holding companies.
- Attracting attention as one of Nikkei Standard Market TOP20 companies.
Hidden Connections
- Aeon Co., Ltd. and Marubeni Corp. are major shareholders with significant control.
- Optimizes supply chain through collaboration with Aeon Market Investment.
- Built proprietary payment platform via API linkage with Minna no Ginko.
- Pioneer in digital transformation in the supermarket industry.
- Integration of multiple Tokyo metropolitan supermarkets suppresses local competition.
- Enables mutual use of gift certificates among multiple group companies to enhance customer convenience.
- Smart payment services deployed across the entire Aeon Group.
- Expanded business portfolio through stock exchange full acquisition of Inageya.
Future Outlook
Growth Drivers
- Stable food demand due to Tokyo metropolitan demographics
- Operational efficiency through digital technology utilization
- Demand for high-value-added products amid rising health consciousness
- Increasing societal interest in sustainability
- Strengthened collaboration and economies of scale with Aeon Group
- Diversification and expansion of EC and mail-order channels
- New store brand rollouts and differentiation
- Customer base expansion through smart payment promotion
- Further external sales of IT platform
- Enhanced cost competitiveness via logistics efficiency
- Expansion of food loss reduction initiatives
- External growth through M&A as a holding company
Strategic Goals
- Achieve sales of 1 trillion yen
- Build 1,000-store network in Tokyo metropolitan area
- Realize reduced environmental impact (plastic reduction, etc.)
- Achieve over 90% cashless payment usage rate
- Expand sustainable products to over 50%
- Complete digital platform rollout across the group
- Strengthen social contribution activities to local communities
- Promote unmanned and efficient delivery services
- Expand health-oriented product lineups
- Strengthen store brands to meet diverse customer needs
Business Segments
Food Wholesale and Joint Procurement
- Overview
- Efficient procurement and logistics for retail chains inside and outside the group.
- Competitiveness
- Strengthened procurement power through collaboration with Aeon Group
- Customers
-
- Food Supermarkets
- Drugstores
- Retail Chains
- Food Service Industry
- Products
-
- Jointly Procured Goods
- Daily Necessities
- Processed Foods
Digital Platform Provision
- Overview
- Utilizes proprietary IT infrastructure to support group sales.
- Competitiveness
- Advanced system for smart payments and logistics innovation
- Customers
-
- Group Companies
- Other Aeon Group Companies
- Retailers
- Products
-
- Ignica Platform
- Smartphone Payment Services
- Online Delivery
Store Development and Marketing Support
- Overview
- Supports efficient store operations for the group and strengthens customer attraction.
- Competitiveness
- AI-driven ad delivery and data analysis technology
- Customers
-
- Subsidiary Companies
- New Store Operators
- Products
-
- Store Design
- Digital Advertising
- Signage Services
Logistics Services
- Overview
- Achieves logistics efficiency and cost reduction.
- Competitiveness
- Logistics optimization through intra-group collaboration
- Customers
-
- Maruetsu
- Kasumi
- Inageya
- Products
-
- Joint Delivery
- Product Storage
- Logistics Cost Reduction Services
Financial and Payment Services
- Overview
- Deploys cashless payments and direct bank account-linked services.
- Competitiveness
- Advanced capabilities through collaboration with Minna no Ginko
- Customers
-
- Consumers
- Retail Stores
- Products
-
- Scan&Go Payment
- Prepaid Electronic Money
- API-Linked Payments
Competitive Advantage
Strengths
- Strong store base in the Tokyo metropolitan area
- Aeon Group backup
- Diverse subsidiary supermarket brands
- Advanced digital platform rollout
- Stable financial base
- Group-wide logistics efficiency
- Diverse payment services introduced
- Focus on sustainability
- Community-rooted sales strategy
- Extensive store network
Competitive Advantages
- Covers major Tokyo metropolitan markets with Maruetsu, Kasumi, and Max Valu Kanto
- Improved customer convenience via proprietary Ignica platform
- Digital service rollout to Aeon Group and beyond
- Diverse customer response through wide price ranges and store brands
- Robust joint procurement and logistics network
- Diverse payment methods including smartphone payments and prepaid cards
- Financial stability enables large investments and M&A
- Marketing and promotion effects through group collaboration
- Early IT system adoption promotes operational efficiency
- Business strategy incorporating environmental considerations
Threats
- Intense price competition in the food industry
- Market shrinkage due to population decline and aging
- Competitors catching up with new digital strategies
- Profit pressure from rising raw material prices
- Risk of increasing logistics costs
- Impact from social disruptions like novel viruses
- Delays in responding to diversifying consumer behavior
- Increased operational burden from stricter regulations
- Regional expansions by local small supermarkets
- Risk of failure in digitalization investments
Innovations
2020: Launch of Online Delivery Ignica
- Overview
- Started a food delivery service using smartphone apps, improving online supermarket convenience.
- Impact
- Contributes to expanded customer touchpoints and sales growth
2020: Introduction of AI Digital Signage Service
- Overview
- Utilizes AI for in-store advertising to deliver optimized information to targets.
- Impact
- Improved promotional effects and customer satisfaction
2020: Launch of Scan&Go Ignica Smartphone Payment Service
- Overview
- Provides a new shopping experience combining smartphone scanning and cashless payments.
- Impact
- Shortened checkout times and improved customer convenience
2022: Launch of Prepaid Electronic Money ignica money
- Overview
- Introduced proprietary prepaid electronic money usable without smartphones.
- Impact
- Expanded payment options and customer base
2023: API Integration with Minna no Ginko
- Overview
- Introduced direct bank account-linked payment system for safe and rapid fund transfers.
- Impact
- Enhanced convenience and security of payment systems
2020: Expanded Joint Procurement for Product Cost Reduction
- Overview
- Promoted procurement efficiency through joint procurement agreement with Welcia Group.
- Impact
- Cost reductions and improved profit margins
2021: Introduction of Unmanned Pickup Rooms
- Overview
- Deployed unmanned pickup rooms for ordered goods using personal authentication systems.
- Impact
- Improved customer convenience and strengthened COVID-19 measures
2022: Proof-of-Concept for Android-Based New POS System
- Overview
- New POS terminals improve checkout efficiency and cash handling.
- Impact
- Streamlined store operations
2021: Group-Wide Online Delivery Expansion
- Overview
- Expanded delivery services from Maruetsu to other Aeon Group companies.
- Impact
- Increased customers through diversified sales channels
2023: Launch of Scan&Go Cards
- Overview
- Improved payment convenience by distributing prepaid cards not requiring smartphones.
- Impact
- Successfully acquired a broader customer base
Sustainability
- Promoting store plastic reduction plans
- Introducing efficient inventory management to reduce food loss
- Equipment updates aimed at improving energy efficiency
- Promoting recycling activities in collaboration with local communities
- Contributing to paper resource reduction through electronic payments
- Expanding sustainable product lineups
- Implementing employee environmental education programs
- Logistics optimization to reduce CO2 emissions
- Actively promoting adoption of local produce
- Eco-bag usage promotion campaigns