Aeon Targets 100 Mega Stores in Vietnam by 2030 as Japan’s Largest Retailer Expands Globally

Japan’s biggest retailer, Aeon, aims to expand its chain of large supermarkets and general merchandise outlets in Vietnam to reach 100 sites by 2030, marking an eightfold growth from current numbers.

The firm additionally plans to establish more “mega-hypermarkets” that integrate grocery items with various general merchandise offerings like food courts and cosmetic sections.
Nikkei Asia
reported.

“To compete with companies like [Thai retailer] Central, we need to aim for 100 general merchandise stores and super-supermarkets by around 2030,” said Yasuyuki Furusawa, who led the retailer’s Vietnam operations until he recently became Aeon Retail’s president.

The company intends to broaden its presence with a greater number of localized retail locations, like neighborhood supermarkets, aiming for approximately 200 sites nationwide.

By February, Aeon managed 12 general merchandise stores in Vietnam, with three being hypermarkets and 36 standard supermarkets, encompassing Citimart outlets operated by its affiliate company.

Furusawa stated in September last year that Vietnam is regarded as
Aeon’s second-most crucial market after Japan
, noting that the company had committed $1.5 billion to the nation throughout the past ten years.

In the previous year, Aeon Mall reported a profit of JPY4.23 billion (US$29.6 million) from its ventures in Vietnam, with total revenue reaching JPY17.3 billion. This performance positioned Vietnam as its most successful market in Southeast Asia and its second-largest globally, following only behind China.

Its profit in Vietnam was only 10.7% less than in China despite revenues being just a quarter.

With retail sales rising by 8% to VND4.92 quadrillion last year, Vietnam has been drawing interest from Japanese firms.

According to a JETRO survey, more than 60% of Japanese companies operating in Vietnam reported profits in 2024, marking the highest profitability in half a decade. Approximately 56% of these firms intend to broaden their activities in the country within the coming one to two years.

“This is the highest rate in ASEAN, indicating that Vietnam has one of the strongest potential for growth,” said Ozasa Haruhiko, chief representative of Jetro Hanoi.