The Long-Awaited First Strawberry of the 'Sanchi to, Konbini,' Series! 'Supporting' the Next-Generation Variety 'Tochiaika' with its Heart-Shaped Cross-Section Through Ice Cream. Offering a Sweet, Soothing Time to Support Tochigi's Agriculture and Farmers With Every Bite

FamilyMart Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Tateo Kotani) will celebrate its 45th anniversary in September 2026. Building on the five keywords we have consistently worked on, we will carry out activities under the slogan 'Ichiban Challenge' (The Number One Challenge). As part of our efforts to become 'The Most Delicious' and 'The Most Loved by the Community,' we will launch 'Torokeru shokkan gyutto ichigo' (Melting Texture, Tightly Packed Strawberry) for 210 yen (226 yen including tax) at approximately 16,400 FamilyMart stores nationwide starting Tuesday, April 14, 2026.

The 4th Year of the Series: Arriving at the First 'Classic' Strawberry

The 'Sanchi to, Konbini,' (Producing Area and Convenience Store) series supports sustainable fruit production. Since its inception, we have always hoped to 'definitely turn strawberries into a product someday.' Precisely because it is a classic ice cream flavor, we wanted to deliver something we were truly satisfied with. By deepening our connection with the producing areas with such passion, we finally encountered a strawberry we were satisfied with in the fourth year of the series.

The producing area is Tochigi Prefecture, known as the 'Strawberry Kingdom.' Inheriting the pride of strawberry cultivation built over more than half a century, 'Tochiaika' is a strawberry variety gathering attention as the standard of the next generation. Its outstanding sweetness, strength to withstand severe heat, and power to even change the working styles of farmers make it a 'strawberry for the future' packed with wisdom to open up the future of the producing area.

The Pride of Farmers and a New Future Connected by 'Tochiaika'

'Tochiaika' is a variety born to alleviate the burden on farmers in an era of severe climate change. Because each berry is large, firm, and hard to damage, the efficiency of harvesting and packing operations has dramatically improved.

'Thanks to Tochiaika, we have more breathing room in our work,' a farmer told us with a bright expression during an interview. Having mental and physical leeway has led to vitality for the future, fostering the desire to 'continue growing delicious strawberries in this land.'

Furthermore, 'The Tochiaika that I painstakingly grew will become ice cream and line store shelves nationwide. Just imagining that sight makes me happy and gives me a great sense of fulfillment.' To respond to the pride of such creators, we pursued a product that maximizes its deliciousness.

A New Form of Support: Choosing by 'Variety Name'

In the 'Sengoku Period of Strawberries' crowded with over 300 varieties, it is not easy for even an excellent variety to have its name penetrate and take root. Therefore, for this product, we intentionally put the variety name 'Tochiaika Juice' on the front of the package instead of just 'Strawberry Juice.' We want customers to remember the name and become fans. This will boost the popularization of the easy-to-grow and delicious 'Tochiaika,' eventually leading to sustainable agriculture. When cut in half, an adorable heart shape appears. Inside it is packed the 'love' (ai) of Tochigi Prefecture to ease the burden on farmers and pass on traditions to the next generation. Tasting this one ice bar becomes a force to support the smiles of the producing area. Eat deliciously and 'support' the producing area. Please experience this new form of support.

To all the farmers, JA Zen-Noh, and FamilyMart employees.

Introducing the 'Sanchi to, Konbini,' Series on the Official FamilyMart Website!

To let more people know about our initiatives with producing areas, we have published a special page for 'Sanchi to, Konbini,' on the official FamilyMart website. The special page introduces detailed situations of the producing areas.

URL: https://www.family.co.jp/sustainability/icebar.html

[Product Details]

[Product Name] Torokeru shokkan gyutto ichigo [Price] 210 yen (226 yen including tax) [Release Date] Tuesday, April 14, 2026 [Release Area] Nationwide [Content] A new flavor in the Gyutto series. An ice bar with a melting texture that highlights strong sweetness, using 27% juice of 'Tochiaika' from Tochigi Prefecture. It has a two-layer structure with a rich strawberry juice layer and a melting gelato layer, allowing the original aroma and rich sweetness of strawberries to spread with every bite.

*Images are for illustrative purposes only. *Since this is a product subject to the reduced tax rate, the tax-included price is displayed with an 8% consumption tax. *Some stores may not carry this product.

FamilyMart, under the motto 'FamilyMart, Where You Are One of the Family,' aims to be an indispensable place beyond just convenience, staying close to the community and connecting with each customer like family.