Japan Post, Lawson to start joint delivery from October

Japan Post and major convenience store chain Lawson Inc. said Tuesday they will start delivering each other’s items, such as mail and merchandise like boxed meals and drinks, from October in Kochi Prefecture.

The two firms said their cooperation is aimed at cutting distribution costs and is part of their environmental measures as the joint delivery will enable the firms to reduce the number of necessary trucks.

As the first step, the two firms will start the joint delivery in some areas in Kochi Prefecture for about a year on a trial basis, with an eye on expanding the areas in the future.

Japan Post and Lawson estimate the joint operation can cut their distribution costs by about 20 percent.

For the joint operation, the two firms will use refrigerating trucks to deliver merchandise from Lawson’s distribution centers to the company’s convenience stores as well as mail from base post offices to smaller post offices.

When coming back, the trucks will carry mail and empty cases of merchandise.

The two firms plan to run two services of the joint delivery per day.

For convenience store chains eyeing opening outlets in rural areas, how to cut distribution costs has been an important issue to resolve.

Lawson is now considering setting up new outlets utilizing the joint delivery system.