Two more FamilyMart stores to open by year-end

KUALA LUMPUR: Agro- food company QL Resources Bhd is on track to achieve its target of establishing 300 FamilyMart outlets in Malaysia within five years, with the opening of two more outlets by year- end.

Executive director Chia Lik Khai said the two new stores would be located at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail Mass Rapid Transit Station here and Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2.

“With the two new outlets, coupled with the first pilot store in Wisma Lim Foo Yong, which opened on Nov 11, and the Mid Valley outlet, we will have four stores by year- end,” he told a press conference after launching the Mid Valley outlet yesterday.

FamilyMart is one of Japan’s biggest convenience store chains and QL Resources’ unit, Maxincome Resources Sdn Bhd, holds the area franchise right of FamilyMart in Malaysia.

Chia said FamilyMart has about 2,500 items on the shelves of each store, of which about 500 were imported from Japan, South Korea, the US, Australia and Taiwan.

“FamilyMart will gradually provide parcel delivery and collection, as well as photocopying services from January next year, depending on the size and location of each outlet,” he said.

On the weakening ringgit, he said even though it would increase the cost of imported items, it would not affect FamilyMart’s sales.

“Each store takes three to five years’ time to breakeven,” he said.

The breakeven period is similar to that of FamilyMart outlets in Japan, FamilyMart Co. Ltd Representative Director and President Tak Sawada, who was present, quipped. On halal products, Chia said local foods sold in the stores were prepared from halal ingredients at a factory which started operations two months ago.

“Currently, we are applying for halal certification from the Department Of Islamic Development Malaysia, while imported goods are strictly screened,” he said. — Bernama