Japanese convenience store chain FamilyMart is planning to install laundry machines in 500 stores around the country. The company intends to attract more customers and the move is designed to meet growing demand for laundry services from dual-income households and single-person households in Japan. The plan is to have the laundry facilities installed nationwide by the end of February 2020. The appliances and other equipment will be procured from domestic electronics maker Aqua Co. under a tie-up agreement.
FamilyMart plans to create space for the laundry machines when building new stores or renovating old ones. The existing stores will prepare dedicated laundry areas in their parking lots. The first laundromat-equipped FamilyMart will debut in the Kanto region that includes Tokyo next spring, the company said. FamilyMart plans to make the laundry machines available around the clock, and customers will be able to make use of eating areas at the stores while washing their clothes.