Total sales rose 3.7% year on year to 109,655 million yen, while existing store sales declined 1.1%. Average daily sales per store were 447,000 yen, and the average amount spent per customer was 604 yen, down 0.8% year on year. The average number of customers per store per day was 737, down 0.3% from a year earlier.

Weather during the month prevented any significant change in sales, with a prolonged cold snap that began at the end of 2004 holding down sales during the New Year period, followed by more poor weather after the holiday.

In boxed lunches, one of LAWSON's important food categories, sales of Sukiyaki to Gobogohan (500 yen), launched on January 25 in the Gohantei series, were strong, but this failed to lift overall sales due to sluggish sales of Makunouchi products. Sales of rice balls in January, however, were again higher than a year earlier, boosted by strong demand for new products such as Sumibi Yakitori (180 yen) launched on January 11, and Ikura Shoyuzuke (165 yen), a rice ball using Niigata Koshi Hikari rice that went on sale on January 25.

In bakery products, sales of Yakitate!! Japan, a tie-up with a popular cartoon for teenagers, were robust. Together with the release of new products in LAWSON's original Totte Oki Sengen bakery range, this helped to drive bakery product sales higher overall compared to a year earlier.

In the counter-top food category, sales promotions and active efforts to strengthen the in-store product lineup led to continued year-on-year sales growth.

In February, LAWSON is maintaining its focus on the rice dish category, particularly the Gohantei series, and creating a more seasonal feel to stores by stocking a wider lineup of seasonal items such as Valentine's Day goods and anti-hay fever products.

LAWSON plans to announce its full-year operating results for the year ending February 28, 2005 on April 13 (Wednesday).