Sommelier AI 'KAORIUM for Sake & Wine' Expansion to 17 Natural Lawson Stores, Mainly in Tokyo, is Confirmed

SCENTMATIC Inc. (CEO: Shunji Kurisu, Headquarters: Tokyo, hereinafter 'Scentmatic'), which proposes new customer experiences through the digitalization of olfaction, will expand the deployment of its sommelier AI 'KAORIUM for Sake & Wine,' which has been on trial at 6 Natural Lawson stores since November 2025, to an additional 17 Natural Lawson stores in and around Tokyo starting May 11, 2026. In this deployment, in the everyday shopping scene of a convenience store, the AI will not only recommend wine that matches the customer's mood and preferences but also propose combinations with food available in the store, providing an unprecedented liquor selection experience.

*KAORIUM is a registered trademark of SCENTMATIC Inc.

A New Sensation in Liquor Selection Provided by KAORIUM

The sommelier AI 'KAORIUM for Sake & Wine' is an AI system that realizes a new dining experience by verbalizing the flavors of sake and wine and guiding users to their ideal drink. In addition to expressing the difficult-to-describe flavors of alcohol in easy-to-understand words, the AI analyzes the match between the store's available liquors and the user's desired mood, such as 'want to feel liberated' or 'want to get excited,' or preferred tastes like 'unique' or 'fruity,' to recommend a suitable drink.

A trial of the sommelier AI 'KAORIUM for Sake & Wine' began in November 2025 at 6 Natural Lawson stores in Tokyo, and has since been gradually expanded to stores mainly in Tokyo, such as the Toyosu Market Front store and the Komazawa 5-chome store. Now, starting May 11, 2026, it will be introduced in 17 Natural Lawson stores in and around Tokyo. With this KAORIUM installation, KAORIUM will be able to propose wines sold at each implementing store according to the customer's mood and preferences. Customers can simply answer a few questions through the KAORIUM device installed in the store, and the AI will suggest a wine that suits their current mood and taste. Furthermore, as a new initiative, we will introduce a total of 21 new pairing suggestions that combine in-store food with wine. The AI will determine the compatibility of various in-store products, from snacks to sweets and bakery items, with wine, presenting new forms of cross-purchasing and delivering an experience that enriches the daily dining table.

The Sommelier AI Proposes Recommended Wines for You

Natural Lawson is a store that supports a healthy and comfortable life for both mind and body under the concept of 'For your own kind of every day,' with a theme of beauty and health.

With this introduction, we aim to vitalize wine sales and create opportunities for 'cross-purchasing' with snacks and sweets. By providing a new experience where customers can enjoy wine and food as a set through AI-proposed pairings, we will lead to the expansion of sales opportunities in stores.

Scentmatic will continue to evolve the discovery and enjoyment of 'food' in convenience stores into something richer through 'KAORIUM for Sake & Wine.'

'KAORIUM for Sake & Wine' Implementing Stores

Installed stores: Shin-Koenji Ekimae, Meguro Yutenji-mae, Hiroo 5-chome, Urban Dock Park City Toyosu, Kita-Senzoku Ekimae, Minato Mirai 4-chome, Nogizaka, Akasaka-dori, Shinkawa 2-chome, Keio Presso Inn Hamamatsucho, Ginza 2-chome, Komazawa 5-chome, Takanawadai Ekimae, Toyosu 3-chome, Toyosu Market Front, Ark Hills Front Tower, Tsukiji Togeki Building

*The KAORIUM service is available for free at any time. *Depending on congestion, you may have to wait to use the KAORIUM service. *The time required varies from person to person. *Installation status may differ due to circumstances.

What is Sommelier AI 'KAORIUM for Sake & Wine'?

The sommelier AI 'KAORIUM for Sake & Wine' is an AI system that realizes a new dining experience by verbalizing the flavors of sake and guiding users to their ideal drink. It solves issues like not knowing what to choose or finding it difficult to understand differences in taste, providing an experience where everyone from beginners to enthusiasts can more richly enjoy the appeal of sake and wine.

The AI, which incorporates human sensibility and vast language data, matches flavor data of alcoholic beverages with user preferences. Furthermore, it provides a new dining experience where flavor differences are visualized in an easy-to-understand verbal format, allowing for a deeper enjoyment of the taste.

Touch Signage for Retailers (Wine): https://scentmatic.co.jp/kaor