2ND LD: Lawson to open 100-yen shops, have 1,000 outlets in 3 years.

TOKYO, May 23 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH MORE INFO)

Lawson Inc. said Monday it will launch its third brand of convenience stores, mainly selling fresh food items for 100 yen excluding tax, and that it targets opening up to 1,000 stores within three years.

''In addition to the regular Lawson stores and Natural Lawson stores, the new, third category in our convenience stores will be something like a mixture of mini supermarkets and convenience stores,'' a company spokesman said.

The major convenience store operator set up Value Lawson, a wholly owned subsidiary, on April 13 to handle the operations of the shops, which are to be named ''STORE 100'' and which will target housewives and the elderly with a variety of fresh foods and convenience goods.

According to the company, the first shop will open Friday in Tokyo and 99 more outlets are scheduled to open by the end of next February.

Convenience stores are performing relatively well in the retail industry, while general merchandise supermarkets and department stores stagnate.

Lawson has been diversifying its convenience stores in recent years. It has already launched Natural Lawson stores featuring products for the health-conscious such as organic food.

With Natural Lawson and the 100-yen shops, Lawson hopes to tackle its slowing sales and growth in the number of stores.