Ito-Yokado owner pursuing lower prices to attract inflation-hit shoppers, CEO says

Supermarket and retail group York Holdings, formerly owned by Seven & i, is seeking to attract price-conscious shoppers affected by inflation by expanding its range of affordable products, CEO Seiichiro Itabashi revealed in an interview. The company, which also operates Ito-Yokado and York-Benimaru supermarket chains, aims to bolster its product lineup and adjust prices to better compete in the industry, as it prepares for a 2028 initial public offering.

Inflation has squeezed household finances and forced the firm to reassess its strategy, Itabashi noted, as many customer groups are highly sensitive to price changes. To achieve this, York Holdings plans to introduce approximately 400 low-cost branded items by the end of 2026, with different pricing for these products in its supermarkets compared to Seven & i's 7-Eleven convenience stores.

Itabashi explained that when under Seven & i, private-label offerings heavily favored convenience stores, leaving limited budget-tier choices in York's supermarkets. Bain Capital, which acquired York in 2025, is providing guidance on pricing, leveraging its expertise in Japanese retail acquisitions. York Holdings, which includes general goods store Loft and baby goods chain Akachan Honpo, was separated from Seven & i's extensive holdings during its takeover battle with Alimentation Couche-Tard in 2025.

The firm has no plans to sell its non-supermarket stakes and is considering acquisitions to expand its core businesses, though no concrete M&A plans are in place at present.