Total sales rose 4.4% year-on-year, to 116,632 million yen, although existing store sales edged down 0.7%. Average daily sales per store reached 487,000 yen, while the average amount spent per customer was 589 yen, a decrease of 1.1%. The average number of customers per store per day inched up 0.5%, to 824.

Existing store markups were up year-on-year, as in March.

By area, the Kanto region showed particularly favorable results, while stores in Hokkaido and the Kinki region continued to struggle.

Sales in the rice dishes category maintained the upward trend that emerged in January, with existing stores finally seeing sales in this category rise year-on-year. This was partly attributable to the April 12 introduction of two items (both 500 yen) in a new series of Gohantei boxed lunches. This new series, directed toward health-conscious consumers, comprises Aburi Chashu-don (grilled roast pork bowl), featuring rice boiled with barley, and Kani-don no Kurosuan (crab bowl with black vinegar sauce), featuring rice boiled with five different grains. These two new offerings proved to be the biggest hits since Gohantei's original debut. Other products contributing to higher sales included two new onigiri (rice balls) made with Niigata Koshihikari rice: Okina Sakezukeyaki (onigiri filled with a large piece of salmon broiled with soy sauce) (180 yen) and Tontoro Onigiri (onigiri with a tender, marbled pork filling) (165 yen). In May, LAWSON will add several more delicious and appealing new products to this category.

Sales in the fast food category once again saw double-digit year-on-year increases.

In the bakery category, sales remained steady thanks to the introduction of new products and favorable interest in basic items, such as Melon Pan buns.

Sales in the beverage category were hampered by cooler temperatures, which dipped below the previous year's levels on many days, and the absence of a major hit like the one that boosted results in 2004.

The current popularity of high-quality noodles caused sales of instant noodles to falter. LAWSON will work to reverse this trend with the introduction of new products that draw the attention of consumers back to instant noodles.

Sales of daily-use items received a boost from the spring allergy season, which was particularly severe this year and caused lingering effects for many sufferers. Demand for pick-me-up health drinks also contributed to better sales.

LAWSON announced its full-term operating results for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005, on April 13 (Wednesday). Please see the detail on our web site.