Stocking shortages may be coming to your local convenience store

One of the biggest perks of living in Japan as an expat is the sheer reliability of convenience stores, and typically, the shelves at my local FamilyMart, Lawson, or Seven-Eleven always seem to be fully stocked.

Apparently, though, that may start to change. FamilyMart has announced it's cutting daily deliveries of rice balls, bentos, and other fresh items from three times a day to two at over 540 stores in central Japan, in response to rising logistics costs and a nationwide shortage of drivers. To keep items fresh for longer, they're even tweaking recipes to allow for longer shelf lives.

The days of fully stocked convenience store shelves may be turning into a thing of the past.

The article I linked above mentions that other chains are following suit, with Seven-Eleven trimming deliveries from four to three in some areas, and Lawson going from three to two in certain cities.

I think it's a good reminder that even Japan's famously efficient systems aren't immune to wider pressures. 

Have you noticed shelves that are less stocked in your local area?