Japan's Rakuten, Walmart's Seiyu to open logistics site as online sales jump

[January 16, 2020]    TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese online retailer Rakuten <4755.T> and Walmart's <WMT.N> Seiyu said they plan to open a new logistics site in Yokohama later this year to deal with growing sales from their joint online supermarket business.

The logo of Rakuten is pictured at the headquarters of Rakuten in Tokyo, Japan, May 15, 2019. REUTERS/Sam Nussey

Rakuten Seiyu Netsuper's sales between late October through the end of December rose 30% from a year earlier, the companies said in a joint statement on Thursday.

Internet grocery shopping has been slow to take off in Japan, where consumers are accustomed to shopping daily for fresh produce. But Seiyu and bigger rival Aeon Co <8267.T> expect change ahead due to growing numbers of working women, and advancements in technology and logistics networks.

(Reporting by Ritsuko Ando; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)

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