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Tag: Aeon

  • FamilyMart-Uny seal merger

    FamilyMart-Uny seal merger

    A merger of Japan’s third and fourth-ranked convenience store operators is set to create a “third force” in Japanese retailing behind Seven & I and Aeon.

    The FamilyMart-Uny merger terms have now been agreed and the two companies are now working towards an implementation date of September 2016.

    FamilyMart will soak up smaller Uny, which operates the Circle K Sunkus convenience store network in Japan. A new holding company will be created, 30 per cent owned by Japanese trading house Itochu, which currently owns three per cent of Uny and is FamilyMart’s single largest shareholder.

    Once merged, the new business will turn over around US$42.2 billion from some 18,000 stores, a network larger than current second placed Lawson and on a par with Seven Eleven Japan.

    The merger has already taken some eight years to negotiate making it nine years by the time the merged entity begins trading. It was back in 2007 when FamilyMart first approached Uny, an offer initially rebuffed.

    Some details have yet to be finalised – or announced – such as the future of Uny’s 230 or so general merchandise stores in what will essentially become a convenience store operator.

    Uny president Norio Sako says there will be some store closures, decided “on their individual merits”.

    There is also no final agreement yet on whether a single operating brand will be adopted.

  • Aeon takes more of Japan to Hong Kong

    Aeon takes more of Japan to Hong Kong

    The newly refurbished Aeon Tsuen Wan store has made the most of its Japanese parent’s design and range influence as it aims to capture more of the suburb’s rising affluence.

    Aeon Stores invested $30 million renovating the store which formally reopened last week.

    MD Christine Chan says the store has adopted more Japanese elements to satisfy the rising demand of local residents in the district.

    “In recent years, the increasing consumption power of residents in Tsuen Wan has raised their demand on the standard of the type and quality of commodities being offered. In order to cater to the taste of consumers in the district, the brand new Aeon Tsuen Wan Store has introduced more Japanese elements as its highlight, while providing a more diverse range of merchandise and dining choices,” she said.

    The new store occupies an area of around 170,000 sqft (1594 sqm) and Aeon says it will provide “more quality commodities and a cozy shopping environment” post renovation.

    It has introduced a number of new elements, including Aeon Body (revealed on Inside Retail Hong Kong on Friday), a beauty and healthcare store, and ROU, a new popular lifestyle variety shop in Japan, both concepts introduced to Hong Kong for the first time.

    The Tsuen Wan Store has also introduced some Japanese fashion brands to satisfy customers’ pursuit of a quality lifestyle. These brands include urban fashion brand Persodea, Japanese countryside style brand Self+Service, Japanese trendy fashion brand Ozoc and the leisure brand for men Caribbean Joe.

    The Aeon Tsuen Wan Store has also expanded its supermarket by adding a cooking demonstration area, the Cooking Station and a fine wine collection zone Liquor Corner, which offers wines selected from around the world.

    Aeon has also revamped the Kids & Babies floor which targets children. New features include product demonstration, toy experience zones and customer service station.

    Situated at the Skyline Plaza, the Tsuen Wan Store enjoys a geographical advantage as it is surrounded by plenty of residential blocks, hotels and commercial buildings in the district, in addition to large residential projects planned for the future.

    “With the renovation, we are confident that the store can capture the immense opportunities lying in the district,” said Chan.

    To coincide with the opening, Aeon launched the Hearty Flower Donation campaign which raised $43,600 for the Green Builder – Environmental Walk 2016 event organised by the Conservancy Association as a joint effort to promote environmental protection and sustainable development.

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  • Aeon opens B300m mall in Si Racha

    Aeon opens B300m mall in Si Racha

    Aeon (Thailand), the local operator of MaxValu supermarkets and Tanjai minimarts, has resumed its investment with a big retail project after suspending its expansion since 1997.

    The company will today have the soft opening of Aeon Sriracha shopping centre in Chon Buri’s Si Racha district to serve growing demand from Japanese expats working nearby.

    The move is part of Japanese parent Aeon Group’s efforts to expand its retail business in Asean with an expectation to drive sales to reach US$16 billion by 2020, a company source said.

    Before Thailand, Aeon Group opened various retail formats in the Asean market including Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia.

    The company spent about 300 million baht to develop Aeon Sriracha near Assumption College Sriracha.

    The three-storey shopping centre has saleable space of 11,000 square metres and will serve Thai and Japanese customers who work and live nearby.

    “Major frequent customers will be Japanese housewives who have free time to shop and dine at our shopping centre. They like shopping in a Japanese ambience,” the source said.

    Aeon Sriracha is surrounded by 1,300 households of Thai and Japanese people with high spending power. It has parking space for 220 cars.

    The shopping centre houses 21 tenants providing services related to Japanese lifestyle. MaxValu supermarket provides service around the clock, while other anchors are Ringer Hut Nagasaki Champon, a Japanese fast food restaurant chain with more than 600 branches worldwide, and Tackle Berry, Japan’s largest used fishing gear chain.

    Si Racha district also has Japanese community mall J-Park Sriracha.

    The artist impression of the Aeon Sriracha shopping centre.

    This is the first time in 18 years that Aeon (Thailand) has invested in a big retail project in Thailand after suspending its expansion plan due mainly to the 1997 financial crisis.

    Aeon Group has had a presence in Thailand for more than 30 years.

    Aeon (Thailand) now operates 78 retail outlets here, with 48 Tanjai minimarts and 30 MaxValu supermarkets.

    Apart from developing its new complex in Si Racha, the company will strengthen its food and information technology facilities to support its aggressive expansion in Thailand from now until 2020.

    It has plans to expand its retail business outside Bangkok, particularly in Northeastern provinces such as Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani, in a bid to tap opportunities from booming border trade after the launch of the Asean Economic Community by year-end.

    Aeon (Thailand) had earlier announced plans to open 40 MaxValu stores next year.

    After that, it will add 100 outlets each year for four years until 2020 for a total of 500 branches.

    Of the 500 stores, 400 will be Tanjai minimarts and the remaining 100 will be under the MaxValu supermarket brand.

    Sales at MaxValu supermarkets are estimated to reach 6.6 billion baht this year.

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  • Aeon Hanoi sets opening date

    Aeon Hanoi sets opening date

    Aeon Hanoi will open its doors on October 28.

    The Japanese-based multinational shopping centre operate and retailer Aeon says the new centre will host 180 retail stores including its supermarket and department store anchors and a mix of local and Japanese brands.

    Aeon Hanoi will be Aeon’s third store in Vietnam, following its debut in Ho Chi Minh City two years ago, and a second mall in Dong Nai, an industrial city near Ho Chi Minh City. The company has already announced a fourth to be built in Ho Chi Minh City, scheduled to open in 2016.

    The Hanoi mall will cover 9.6 hectares in the suburb of Long Bien.

    Besides its focus on fashion and specialty stores, the centre will host restaurants and a foodcourt serving cuisine from Vietnam, Japan, Thailand and Korea on the third floor.

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  • Aeon Hong Kong to invest in new stores

    Aeon Hong Kong to invest in new stores

    Aeon Hong Kong is ramping up its store network expansion in the territory and the mainland.

    The Japanese retailer’s locally listed subsidiary has set aside HK$420 million to build new stores and refurbish existing ones, MD Christine Chan Pui Man said in announcing the company’s half year result. The cash – vastly more than the $51 million spent in the first half of this year – will be spent during the second half of 2015 and in 2016.

    Chan said despite a “stagnant” retail industry in both China and Hong Kong, the group improved its sales by 2.4 per cent to $4.499 billion in the six months to June 30, largely from stable growth in the mainland. Gross margin rose from 30.6 per cent to 31.1 per cent due to merchandise enhancement, boosting the core business profit by 20.8 per cent to $43.7 million.

    In the first half of this year Aeon Hong Kong opened four new stores – two in Tsuen Wan, one in Sai Ying Pun and another in Sham Shui Po, giving it a network of 46 on June 30.

    Revenue from the group’s Hong Kong operations was maintained at HK$1.87 billion, down marginally on a year ago, but profit fell from $44.7 million to $23.6 million.

    On the mainland, revenue rose by 6.8 per cent to $2.626 billion and the segment results achieved a turnaround with profit of $20.2 million compared with a loss of $8.4 million last year. Aeon now has 29 stores in south China, no more than at the end of last year.

    With a focus on now expanding the network, Aeon Hong Kong believes the mainland will become a major growth driver of the group.

    “In spite of the unstable macroeconomic environment and the volatile stock market, the PRC is still one of the economies with the largest potential for further business growth,” Chan said.

    In the second half of 2015, a new store will open in Zhongshan and in the first half of 2016, one will open in Panyu and two in Guangzhou and Shenzhen respectively in the second half.

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  • Aeon Cambodia to build second mall

    Aeon Cambodia to build second mall

    Japan’s Aeon is to build a second shopping mall in Cambodia’s capital city Phnom Penh.

    The news was revealed on the first birthday of Aeon’s first Cambodia mall, which it says has attracted 15 million visitors.

    The new mall will be built about 10km north of Phnom Penh’s CBD in the Pong Peay City, a new residential and commercial development by the LYP Group on the city’s north side.  LYP is owned by prominent local businessman and ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat.

    With a 151,000 sqm footprint it will be significantly larger than the first mall, which is 108,000 sqm. The gross leasable area will be 70,500 sqm.

    Like all of Aeon’s malls in Asia, the centre will be anchored by an Aeon supermarket. Supporting retailers will include Japanese brands who partner with Aeon in new developing markets and international brands such as Puma, Adidas and Levi’s.

    Aeon Asia MD Washizawa Shinobu said his company is confident Cambodia’s emerging middle class will make the new centre a success, aiming to attract 10 million visitors in its first year.

    “I am sure Cambodian people will be richer with economic growth like that, which means they will buy more products,” he said.

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  • Five trends in Vietnam retailing

    Five trends in Vietnam retailing

    Vietnam’s retail market is set to grow by 8.4 per cent annually until 2020, making it one of the fastest-growing markets in south-east Asia.

    Against a backdrop of increased disposable income, rapid urbanisation and an appetite for change among younger shoppers, we take a look at five trends defining the marketplace for pan-Asian retailers right now.

    Confident investment

    January 2015 marked the first time non-domestic retailers could take full ownership of commercial property in Vietnam, following commitments made to the World Trade Organisation. Now, new trade agreements with Japan, Korea and the countries that make up the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) look set to support further growth for international retailers in Vietnam:

    Tailoring the best of international retail

    Domestic retailers may have the advantage when it comes to local shopper knowledge but
    international retailers are drawing on their own strengths to help them compete.

    Dairy Farm, FamilyMart and Aeon have brought their expertise in loyalty schemes, private label and innovative marketing to their stores in the region.

    Other points of difference include appealing to busy office workers with a fast food to go counter (seen at Family Mart and B Mart) and bringing an international flavour to the in-store hot food offer (Aeon Mall).

    Alternative store concepts

    Many retailers have established themselves in Vietnam with a hypermarket presence in one of the major retail hotspots like Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.

    Lotte and hypermarket chain Aeon are appealing to families and experimental shoppers with department store formats that act as wider shopping and entertainment destinations. Aeon is also making its mark with a loyalty scheme that includes tailored offers for mums – such as birthday treats or discounts on baby care.

    In the convenience channel, Guardian is the first combined-format health, beauty and drugstore in Vietnam. The store is making waves with its clean layout, colourful signage, bold promotional activity and sales assistants offering a superior level of service.

    Product innovation for a changing market

    A new concept in Vietnam, private label is appealing to young, experimental shoppers thanks to its lower prices and alternative products.

    Aeon has introduced its TopValu private label range, which taps into the popularity of Japanese culture by offering authentic Japanese ingredients and home cooking kits. The retailer is now working with local suppliers to explore domestic production.

    An increasingly affluent middle class is also supporting demand for exclusive and imported novelties. Dairy Farm is well-known for attracting these shoppers with its packaged food, household, health and beauty ranges.

    Expanding to national coverage

    A priority for most retailers is to create a nationwide presence. Lotte has built a network of ten hypermarkets spanning six big cities across Vietnam, making them the first pan-Asian retailer to achieve such a spread of coverage. Meanwhile, Ministop (Aeon), Guardian (Dairy Farm) and Shop&Go are pushing their convenience format in retail hotspots.

    Major retailers are seeing good growth from their franchise models, making partnerships, mergers and acquisitions hot topics.

    Aeon has partnered with local retailers Citimart in the south of the country and Fivimart in the north. The domestic chains are helping Aeon speed up its expansion plans by using their existing store networks. In return, their own customers are benefitting from the retail giant’s private label ranges and investment in infrastructure.

  • Migros to sell private label in Japan

    Migros to sell private label in Japan

    Swiss retailer Migros is to sell private label products into two Japanese retail chains.

    Switzerland’s largest grocer, and one of the world’s 40 largest supermarket chains, is to sell lines to Lawson’s Seijo Ishii stores and Seiyu, which is Walmart’s Japan business.

    According to the Nikkei Asian Review, Migros will start with 16 premium products including Swiss Delice biscuits and iced tea, which will go on sale in 400 supermarkets trading under the Seiyu and Seijo Ishii banners.

    By 2020, Migros hopes to expand the range to 300 items, including desserts, snacks, cosmetics and skincare products, projecting sales of US$16 million annually.

    Retail research house IGD describes the move as “particularly surprising” for Seiyu, whose range already includes private label lines from Walmart’s own network, including Asda’s Extra Special wines.

    IGD describes Japan as “the most sophisticated private label market in Asia,” with strong players including Seven & I, Aeon, FamilyMart and Lawson.

    “These retailers are exploring the higher margin opportunities that premium private label ranges offer, focusing development around high quality, special ingredients and unique products.”

    Those ranges include Seven Gold and FamilyMart’s Platinum Line.

    But IGD says European influenced products are likely to appeal to shoppers’ increasingly cosmopolitan tastes, and the early line-up includes items which are mutually popular in the Swiss and Japanese markets: ice cream and iced tea.

    “Migros follows in the footsteps of European retailers Waitrose and Carrefour, whose private label products are already available in Japan through partnerships with Aeon.”

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  • Tesco Asia carve up likely

    Tesco Asia carve up likely

    A carve-up of Tesco Asia operations seems increasingly likely with credible reports in three different nations now of serious expressions of interest.

    While markets await firm news of progress of HSBC’s quest to find a buyer for the Tesco Korea business, the latest news is that Japan’s Aeon has expressed interest in buying Tesco Malaysia, reportedly valued in the region of £900 million.

    That follows an approach from Thai billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont late last year who prepared a speculative bid by his company Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) to buy back the troubled Tesco Plc’s Thai business, which he sold during the Asian financial crisis. That bid was initially rejected but if Tesco is selling its Korean and Malaysian operations it is likely to let Thailand go as well if it can gain a fair price.

    If all three sales were to proceed, it would almost certainly see the Tesco Asia operations rebranded under new owners – in Thailand, most likely under the Lotus brand, in Malaysia stores would be merged into Aeon’s existing network and in Korea – that would entirely depend on the successful bidder.

    Reuters has reported reliable sources confirming Aeon’s interest in Tesco Malaysia. Aeon is cashed up, has a heavy focus on expanding across Southeast Asia and a merger of its network with Tesco’s would give it 29 stores, making it a formidable competitor to local hypermarket operator Giant, which has a lower market positioning to Aeon’s more premium offer.

    The Japanese retail and property giant entered Malaysia by acquiring the Carrefour operation in 2012 for €250 million.

    Meanwhile, KKR has reportedly rejoined the race to buy Tesco Korea’s Homeplus network which is estimated to be worth US$6 billion, after sweetening its preliminary offer. All the prospective shortlisted buyers reported by the UK and Korean financial press are private equity companies, including Affinity Equity Partners, Goldman Sachs, Carlyle Group and MBK Partners.

    However in a market as complex as Korea, it is highly likely any of those bidders would want to partner with a local retail operator for the business connections and local market knowledge.

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  • Aeon Vietnam pronounces fourth mall

    Aeon Vietnam pronounces fourth mall

    Japanese retailer and mall operator Aeon has introduced plans for a fourth mall in Vietnam.

    After the success of its first centre, Celadon Metropolis in suburban Ho Chi Minh Metropolis opened in January 2014, Aeon opened one other within the industrial hub of Binh Duong final November. A 3rd mall is underneath development in Lengthy Bien, within the capital metropolis, Hanoi.

    Now Aeon Vietnam says it is going to construct a fourth purchasing centre in Binh Tan, roughly 10km southwest of central Ho Chi Minh (about 40 minutes by automotive) inside the Worldwide Hello-Tech Healthcare Park being developed by Hoa Lam-Shangri-La. It’s scheduled to open in summer time.

    Aeon says the park gives medical, residential, instructional and business amenities and is predicted to proceed rising. The district’s transportation setting can also be well-developed, with quick access to an outer ring street and an East-West Freeway which may permit it to attract clients from a large space.

    The mall may have about 59,000 sqm of gross leasable flooring area and parking for about 1500 automobiles and 4000 bikes. It is going to be anchored by an Aeon hypermarket, with 160 specialty retailer tenancies.

    Underneath the Aeon Group Medium-term Administration Plan (FY2014-2016), the corporate is pursuing a shift to Asian markets as a standard group technique. Aeon opened its first malls in Cambodia in 2014 and Indonesia in 2015.

    Within the meantime, Aeon established a consultant in Vietnam in February 2015 to speed up enterprise improvement by unifying the group initiatives.

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  • Ministop Korea fined for squeezing suppliers

    Ministop Korea fined for squeezing suppliers

    South Korea’s antitrust watchdog has slapped a 114 million gained (US$103,100) wonderful on comfort retailer chain Ministop Korea for unfair commerce practices and ordered the corporate to take corrective motion.

    The penalty towards the native affiliate of Japan’s Aeon group, one of many largest retailers in Asia, comes after Ministop Korea abused its superior place to arbitrarily change contracts with its worth added community (VAN) corporations, the Truthful Commerce Fee (FTC) stated.

    A VAN firm facilitates digital knowledge interchange (EDI), akin to bank card approval and settlement.

    “Ministop unilaterally halted dealings with two native VAN corporations in February 2011 after they did not match a proposal made by one other agency that provided appreciable financial incentives to vary its community associate,” the FTC stated.

    Through the course of, the comfort retailer chain acquired financial advantages from the prevailing VANs that originally needed to take care of their contracts however later baulked when the demand turned extreme, it stated.

    The watchdog stated the 2 VANs had accepted the change to their contracts in September 2010, which required them to pay three.5 billion gained over seven years, however when Ministop Korea requested for the signing of a revised association simply 5 months later, they rejected the decision and had their contracts terminated.

    The FTC stated it has additionally requested state prosecutors to launch a legal investigation into the case.

    The watchdog stated the newest motion towards Ministop Korea will ship a warning to giant retail chains which were cited prior to now for exploiting VAN corporations.

    “The transfer ought to assist right unfair commerce practices within the EDI sector,” it stated.

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  • Aeon posts 1Q profit growth, sees challenging year

    Aeon posts 1Q profit growth, sees challenging year

    Aeon chairman Datuk Abdullah Mohd Yusof said nevertheless, the group remains confident in meeting the challenges head-on.

    “After consumers get used to the changes in the new tax system, they will start shopping again, especially in the upcoming festive periods,” he told reporters after the group’s annual general meeting yesterday.

    After enjoying four consecutive years of steady growth, Aeon saw its net profit for the financial year ended December 31, 2014 (FY14) drop 7.9% to RM212.71 million from RM230.96 million in FY13.

    However, its net profit rebounded for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 (1QFY15), growing 5.4% to RM49.4 million or 3.52 sen a share from RM46.88 million or 3.34 sen a share a year ago. Revenue was up by 17.1% to RM1.11 billion from RM945.51 million in 1QFY14.

    Abdullah blamed the net profit decline in FY14 on the rising cost of living and operation costs, as well as an increase in its capital expenditure (capex) for expansion.

    “The [implementation of the] minimum wage also caused [the] costs to go up. The cost of doing business has risen. We have also been accelerating our expansion to have a bigger market share,” said Aeon managing director Nur Qamarina Chew Abdullah.

    Aeon has set aside RM700 million as capex for FY15, an increase from about RM670 million last financial year.

    Abdullah said the budget had been earmarked for the development of upcoming Aeon malls, namely in Shah Alam, Selangor and Klebang, Melaka, which are slated to open in 4Q15.

    The group will also open malls in Kota Baru, Kelantan by 2Q16, and Kuching, Sarawak in 2Q17.

    The overall occupancy rate of its malls currently stands at 93%, a number that Abdullah said is a “fairly good” average.

    Yesterday, Aeon shares closed 0.96% higher at RM3.16, with some 1.77 million shares traded. It closed with a market capitalisation of RM4.39 billion.

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  • Japan convenience stores eat into supermarkets

    Japan convenience stores eat into supermarkets

    Established supermarket chains across Japan are feeling the pinch as consumers opt instead for smaller shops at more conveniently located Japan convenience stores.

    A feature in The Japan News, an English language version of The Yomiuri Shimbun, says business performance is deteriorating at Ito-Yokado (not at all ironically part of the Seven & I group, which owns 7-Eleven as well) and Aeon.

    Aeon is actively building its shopping centre and retail reach in other Asian countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam – and most recently Indonesia, as it shores up its growth prospects in the wake of a declining Japanese population and stagnant economy.

    As The Japan News reports, while the supermarkets are reporting almost embarrassing results, sales and profits are booming for the convenience store chain giants, especially 7-Eleven, according to financial statements for the year to February 28.

    “This illustrates how the retail chain sector has been split into two contrasting segments. Such checkered business results are mainly attributed to ever-diversifying consumer preferences, which analysts say major supermarkets – have been struggling to keep up with.”

    The report says Aeon president Motoya Okada had “a grim look on his face” during a news conference last week when he announced his company’s business results for the year were “well below our expectations.”

    The largest supermarket chain operator under Aeon’s umbrella, Aeon Retail, saw its operating profits plunge 90.8 per cent from the previous year. Its supermarket business, including Daiei, posted a loss for the first time since 2008.

    Ito-Yokado’s profit slumped 83.4 per cent year-on-year.

    Seven & i Holdings president Noritoshi Murata told a press briefing earlier this month the Japanese market was “in the process of what you might call an increasingly conspicuous split into two disparate trends in consumer behavior”.

    Murata argued that consumer preferences can now be divided into two basic patterns: opting for big-ticket items or prioritising daily necessities.

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  • Aeon Malaysia plans two new malls

    Aeon Malaysia plans two new malls

    Aeon Malaysia will build two new malls this year, at a cost of 450 million Ringgit (US$121 million).

    Aeon Malaysia currently has 23 malls across the country, 29 Aeon hypermarkets and four smaller stores branded MaxValu.

    The two new centres will be built in Klebang in Perak and in Shah Alam in Selangor, part of greater Kuala Lumpur.

    “This has always been part of our expansion plan here,” explained Aeon Malaysia MD Nur Qamarina Chew.

    “Malaysia has shown resilient growth despite the ongoing economic challenges.”

    The company targets middle- and upper-income segments of Malaysian consumers, including the expat community.

    In a separate move, Aeon Malaysia will undertake a rebranding of its portfolio as it positions itself as ‘the primary retail lifestyle hub’ in the country.

    A budget of 8 million Ringgit ($2.1 million) has been set aside to rebrand the shopping centres Aeon Mall and adopt the tagline “Do Mall”.

    The company says it will work to create new activities and events at its malls throughout the year to encourage the perception of lifestyle rather than just a destination to go shopping.

    “We celebrated our 30th anniversary in Malaysia last year and it is time to rebrand Aeon as a lifestyle destination rather than just a shopping centre as we begin our new decade here,” said Chew.

    “We also think the timing is idea with this rebranding exercise, given the ongoing economic challenges and the new GST, as we would like our customers to spend more time with us for leisure purposes and not just for shopping.”

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  • Indonesia’s 1st Aeon Mall to open in May

    Indonesia’s 1st Aeon Mall to open in May

    Shopping mall developer Aeon Mall Indonesia and real-estate giant Sinar Mas Land, have joined forces to open Indonesia’s first Aeon Mall on May 30, a company executive revealed on Wednesday.

    The new joint entity behind the shopping center has been named Aeon Mall Sinarmas Land Indonesia, or AMSL

    The announcement confirms a report  detailing the endeavor in GlobeAsia last October, which also quoted Sinar Mas Land director Ishak Chandra in estimating that the project would cost between $150 million and $200 million.

    Located in BSD City, a Sinar Mas Land township in Tanggerang on the southern outskirts of Jakarta, the mall will house 280 stores — 47 of which are part of popular Japanese franchises.

    Nearly half of these brands are completely new to Indonesia, AMSL operations manager Adrian Pranata said.

    Ryuma Okazaki, president director of both AMSL Indonesia and Aeon Mall Indonesia, said the joint venture is expected to attract 12 million visitors a year.

    Its main target market is middle to high-income consumers living in BSD City, Tanggerang, West Jakarta and North Jakarta, he added.

    Land and construction costs of the 100,000-square meter mall ultimately reached $160 million.

    Aeon Mall Indonesia is a local arm of Japan-based shopping mall developer and operator Aeon, while Sinar Mas Land is the property holding company of giant conglomerate Sinar Mas Group, which owns a diversified businesses across the country. Aeon Mall Indonesia contributed 67 percent of the shopping center’s investment.

    Okazaki also confirmed Aeon’s plan to open 20 new malls in Indonesia, mainly in West Java and the Greater Jakarta area — which includes Bogor, Tanggerang, Bekasi and Depok — to tap into Indonesia’s rapidly growing middle class.

    The Japanese company had set a five- to eight-year investment plan worth 80 billion yen ($667.57 million) in 2013.

    Okazaki added that the investment costs may have surged by now, due to inflation, foreign exchange fluctuations and higher construction costs.

    Adrian of AMSL said Indonesia’s second Aeon mall will likely be located in Jakarta Garden City, a township in East Jakarta developed by Sinar Mas land rival Modernland Realty.

    Construction is scheduled to commence in May, he added.

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