Walmart and Rakuten, Inc. officially opened the first Walmart e-commerce store in Japan, titled the “Walmart Rakuten Ichiba Store.” This flagship store offers 1,200 of Walmart’s U.S. branded products to Japanese consumers, with orders set to be fulfilled in the United States and air freighted to Japan.
“Walmart is committed to providing a trusted retail experience in Japan and we are always looking for new ways to better serve consumers here as their lifestyles and needs change,” said Nathan Kring, Senior Vice President of Walmart International, in a press release. “Through Seiyu, we have an in-depth understanding of this fast-changing market. The carefully curated assortment being offered on our flagship store reflects this insight and our ongoing dedication to Japanese shoppers.”
According to that press release, the digital store is part of a partnership between Walmart and Rakuten announced in January of this year. By leveraging both of their strengths, the two companies seek to expand consumer reach in both Japan and the United States. Walmart plans to expand its product range and add new product categories from its international assortment to the Rakuten Ichiba store. Walmart’s Japanese subsidiary, Seiyu GK, will provide customer support for the store.
"We are very excited to be working with Walmart to bring a diverse product lineup of American brands at affordable prices to Rakuten Ichiba users in Japan,” commented Shunsuke Yazawa, Executive Officer and Vice President of Marketplace Business at Rakuten, Inc. “Through the opening of the Walmart Rakuten Ichiba Store, we hope to make Rakuten Ichiba an even more attractive destination for online shoppers in Japan.”
Following the flagship store's launch in Japan, will Walmart be implementing this new store format in the States as well? Deli Market News will continue to be here with the latest.
