Rakuten, Yamazawa Partner on Digital Grocery Platform Launch

Tokyo, Japan—Rakuten Group Inc. and regional supermarket operator Yamazawa have signed an agreement to integrate Yamazawa stores into Rakuten's nationwide online supermarket platform, the companies announced today.

The partnership will launch in January 2025, enabling customers to pre-order seasonal event products through "Yamazawa Net Shop" on the Rakuten Nationwide Supermarket platform. 

Customers can place and pay for orders online before collecting their items at designated times at selected Yamazawa store locations.

Yamazawa, which operates 70 stores across Yamagata, Miyagi, and Akita prefectures as of December 2024, will begin the online service with Ehomaki sushi roll products for their first seasonal offering.

The agreement follows Yamazawa's implementation of Rakuten payment services across its entire store network in March 2024, including the Rakuten Point Card common point service and Rakuten Edy IC-type electronic money system.

Through its platform, Rakuten will provide comprehensive support for Yamazawa's e-commerce operations, including order management, online payment processing, customer acquisition, promotional activities, and delivery operations.

The collaboration aims to enhance shopping convenience for local customers while strengthening both companies' contributions to regional communities through the Rakuten Nationwide Supermarket platform, which provides e-commerce infrastructure for supermarket operators across Japan.