(Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun)
By The Yomiuri Shimbun
Nov. 3--TOKYO -- Retail businesses pursuing low-price policies have been
enjoying remarkably favorable sales in recent months, as exemplified by the
operators of McDonald's and Uniqlo.
McDonald's Holdings Co. (Japan) on Monday said its sales at outlets in
this country, including franchise stores, rose to a record 397.4 billion yen
in the January-September period, up 3.3 percent from the same period last
year.
The same day, Fast Retailing Co., which operates Uniqlo outlets, said its
October sales across the nation jumped 35.7 percent from the same month last
year, marking the biggest year-on-year monthly increase since March 2001, when
sales rose 42.6 percent on the back of its popular fleece wear.
McDonald's drew customers with campaigns based on free cups of coffee and
its Quarter Pounder hamburger -- which uses a patty 2.5 times bigger than
normal -- while other restaurant chains, including family restaurants and
izakaya, have failed to attract customers.
According to its consolidated earnings report for the nine-month period,
McDonald's operating profit rose to 17.6 billion yen, up 23.9 percent on year,
a record high since it was listed on the Jasdaq stock market in 2001.
Uniqlo sales were boosted by its fleece wear and Heat-tech underwear,
which is made from heat-retaining textiles. The retailer said its new footwear
lines and clothing designed by Jil Sander also are proving popular.
Meanwhile, many department stores and supermarkets are struggling to sell
clothes.
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