POPLAR Co.,Ltd.
7601・Standard Market・Retail Trade
Smart Store Business
Segment specializing in franchise operations for small in-facility stores and manufacturing/sales via in-house factories
| Period | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total operating revenue (Q1 FY2027, ending March 2027) | ¥1,242 million | ¥1,300 million (Q1 FY2026, ending March 2026) | ↓ |
| Operating loss (Q1 FY2027, ending March 2027) | -¥89 million | -¥62 million (Q1 FY2026, ending March 2026) | ↓ |
| Total operating revenue (full year FY2026, ended March 2026) | ¥5,001 million | ¥5,078 million (full year FY2025, ended March 2025) | ↓ |
| Operating loss (full year FY2026, ended March 2026) | -¥316 million | -¥135 million (full year FY2025, ended March 2025) | ↓ |
| Sales of bento/prepared foods from in-house factories to drugstores etc. (Q1 FY2027, ending March 2027) | 137.0% year-on-year | — | ↑ |
| Sales of frozen prepared foods to elderly care facilities (Q1 FY2027, ending March 2027) | 168.0% year-on-year | — | ↑ |
Business Details
Operates a franchise business of convenience stores specializing in in-facility locations such as hospitals, universities, and offices under the "POPLAR" and "Seikatsu Saika" brands. Adopts a sales royalty system to achieve low-cost operations. The company owns its own bento and prepared foods factories, and functions as a "manufacturing retailer," supplying products to chain stores as well as manufacturing and selling frozen prepared foods to external retailers such as drugstores and to elderly care facilities. It is also promoting 24-hour unmanned operations using cashless self-checkout systems.
Recent Overview
External factory sales grew substantially, but the segment overall saw declining revenue and an expanded loss
In Q1 FY2027 (ending March 2027) (March-May 2026), total operating revenue in the Smart Store Business was ¥1,242 million (down 4.4% year-on-year), and the operating loss expanded to ¥89 million (compared to an operating loss of ¥62 million in the same period last year). Meanwhile, external sales channels performed well, with in-house factory sales of bento and prepared foods to drugstores and others reaching 137.0% year-on-year, and frozen prepared foods for elderly care facilities reaching 168.0% year-on-year. The company is promoting diversification of products and formats, including the opening of the new format "POPLAR Deli" and the introduction of the new "Pop-don" series.
Key Products
Growth Drivers
- Expansion of external sales channels (to drugstores and elderly care facilities) for frozen prepared foods and bento manufactured and sold by in-house factories
- Development of new markets through substantial growth in fully cooked frozen prepared foods for elderly care facilities (168.0% year-on-year)
- Increased average customer spending through expansion of the "Pop-ben" brand product lineup, including the introduction of the new "Pop-don" series
- Improved sales and profits at franchise stores through promotion of 24-hour unmanned operations using cashless self-checkout systems
- Differentiation through the rollout of the new format "POPLAR Deli" (prepared foods sold by weight, supervised by registered dietitians)
- Securing customer traffic through diverse format deployment, including unmanned stores using smartphone-sized simple POS terminals
Risks
- Rising manufacturing costs due to soaring raw material prices (rice, seaweed, etc.)
- Continued pressure on profitability from persistently high energy costs and rising labor/recruitment costs
- Risk of declining customer traffic due to strengthening consumer thrift and preference for low prices
- Intensifying competition due to entry of major chains into in-facility locations
- Upfront costs associated with capital investment and staffing needed to expand external sales channels
- Uncertain outlook for profitability improvement amid a trend of expanding segment losses
Last updated: June 30, 2026