Total sales rose 4.9% year-on-year, to 117,701 million yen, although existing store sales slipped 0.1%. Average daily sales per store reached 477,000 yen, while the average amount spent per customer was 601 yen, a decrease of 0.4%. The average number of customers per store per day edged up 0.3%, to 790. By area, the Kanto and Chugoku regions showed particularly favorable results.

Favorable results in the rice dishes and fast food categories prompted an increase in existing store markups above the March 2004 level.

Sales in the rice dishes category maintained the upward trend of the previous month. This was attributable to the introduction of two new Gohantei series boxed lunches (both 500 yen) and Yakisaba Sushi (grilled mackerel sushi) (480 yen), as well as the addition of a Yakitsukune (minced grilled chicken) onigiri (rice ball) made with Niigata Koshihikari rice (165 yen) and Tonkatsu Onigiri (rice ball with breaded pork cutlet filling) (180 yen). In April, LAWSON will further enhance its lineup in the rice dishes category with the addition of a number of tasty new offerings, including two health-conscious selections to the repackaged Gohantei series.

Sales in the fast food category, an area easily influenced by temperature fluctuations, continued to register recent double-digit gains. This result is attributable to such factors as the launch of a new product, Hashed Potato (hash browns) (70 yen), and a wider assortment of items in stores, as well as to effective counter displays that reflect the increasingly warm weather.

Sales in the bakery category benefited from effective new product introductions and improved counter presentations. Results were particularly favorable for three products in the Totte Oki Sengen series: Melon Pan buns (105 yen), Melon Stick (crunchy melon pie stick) (110 yen) and Melon Whip Sando (sandwich with melon-flavored cream filling) (130 yen).

In the beverage category, sales of new products were fair. Nonetheless, overall category sales were hampered by cooler temperatures, which dipped below the previous year's levels, and the absence of a major hit like Healthya, a bottled tea beverage , which was launched in 2004.

On March 15, LAWSON started accepting orders for gifts for Mother's Day, as well as for Father's Day and other occasions.

LAWSON plans to announce its full-term operating results for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005, on April 13 (Wednesday).