Convenience store chain Seven-Eleven Japan announced increased prices for some onigiri and bento items, particularly raising the cost of Tuna Mayo onigiri to 196 yen due to higher ingredient costs.
Japan's largest convenience store chain, Seven-Eleven Japan, announced a price increase on October 12 for various rice balls (onigiri) and bento boxes. This change, effective nationwide until October 16, will see an average price rise of approximately 9% for 29 items in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The increase is attributed to higher procurement costs for rice harvested last autumn, compared to two years prior, prompting the company to adjust prices as they begin utilizing this newly sourced rice.
Among the most notable adjustments is the price hike for the Tuna Mayo and Hokkaido Kombu hand-rolled rice balls, which will see an 18 yen increase to 196 yen, marking a total rise of 58 yen since the previous increase in January of last year. As rice and nori ingredient costs have continued to rise, Seven-Eleven has been implementing price adjustments consistently to maintain profitability. This price change indicates broader trends in consumer goods driven by inflation in agricultural inputs.
To counteract potential declines in onigiri sales due to the price hike, Seven-Eleven will launch a promotional campaign offering coupons from October 17 to 23 that provide a 50 yen discount on the pre-tax price of onigiri when purchased along with certain noodle products. This strategy aims to entice customers despite the increased prices and maintain sales levels.
