Trial Company Opens "Mega Center Trial Hamakita Store," Shizuoka Prefecture's First "Next-Generation Mega Center," on Former Seiyu Site

Trial Company Inc. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; Representative Director: Hiroyuki Nagata; hereinafter, Trial) will open the "Mega Center Trial Hamakita Store," the first mega center in Shizuoka Prefecture, on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

This store is the second location, following the Mega Center Trial Higashimatsuyama Store (Saitama Prefecture), to open in an existing facility after a Seiyu store closure. The sales floor area has been significantly expanded from approximately 1,000 tsubo during its time as Seiyu to approximately 3,000 tsubo. By introducing home appliances and apparel specialty stores, which were not previously available, it will open as a smart store*1, realizing the largest one-stop shopping experience in the region.

*1: Within the Trial Group / A smart store refers to a store format that introduces IoT devices and AI technology to provide new purchasing experiences and enable efficient operations based on data utilization.

■Trial's First Fruit and Vegetable Sweets Section Appears!

Taking a step beyond conventional "fruit sales as ingredients," Trial will for the first time establish a fruit and vegetable sweets section. Against the backdrop of an increase in dual-income households, there is growing demand for "ready-to-eat" options, where people want to easily enjoy high-quality items. While there is demand for fruit, the effort of peeling and cutting has been a barrier to purchase. This initiative targets consumers seeking both convenience and authentic deliciousness.

The biggest feature is the pursuit of "freshness" by leveraging the procurement capabilities of the fruit and vegetable department. Fruits purchased are finished in-store, offered at their most delicious timing. Furthermore, under the supervision of pâtissiers and artisans, specialty-quality products such as parfaits and roll cakes will be developed. In addition, product development that utilizes the inherent value of ingredients, such as Trial's private brand farm bananas, baked sweet potatoes, and pineapples, will also be undertaken.

This initiative will make the Hamakita store a model for future expansion, and validation for multi-store deployment and commercialization will proceed. With the changing seasons, the main fruits will change, creating a sweets section unique to fruits and vegetables where the entire sales floor evokes a sense of the season.

●Sweets Lineup Unique to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

・Fruit Eating Parfait
Finished with plenty of fruit and yogurt for a refreshing taste.
Price: From 537 yen (tax included)

・Baked Sweet Potato Brûlée
A smooth-textured baked sweet potato brûlée using Trial's private brand "Hare no Mitsuimo" (Honey Sweet Potato).
Price: 321 yen (tax included)

・Cream Roll
A satisfying roll cake made with one Trial farm banana and light cream.
Price: 429 yen (tax included)

■From High-End Brand Meats to Our Own Brand Meats! Freshness-Focused Face-to-Face Meat Sales

In addition to high-end brand meats such as A5 rank "Matsusaka beef" and "Kinka pork," Trial will offer its proprietary meat brands, "Todoroki Gyuniku" and "Todoroki Wagyu," carefully selected according to unique standards cultivated over many years.

"Todoroki Gyuniku" is selected based on domestic beef aged 24 months or older, characterized by the inherent deliciousness of the meat brought out by a sufficient fattening period. "Todoroki Wagyu" is primarily selected from female cattle, known for their tenderness and sweet fat, with dedicated meat artisans assessing the condition of each animal.

At the sales counter, we offer "order-cut" service, tailoring cuts, thickness, and quantity on the spot according to customer requests. We propose options suitable for various uses such as steak, yakiniku, and sukiyaki, creating a new fresh meat sales area that combines the "joy of choosing" with the "value of a face-to-face experience."

■Results of Mega Center Trial Higashimatsuyama Store

At the "Mega Center Trial Higashimatsuyama Store" in Saitama Prefecture, which Trial opened as a mega center in an existing facility after a Seiyu store closure, the sales floor was renovated with a focus on strengthening "food," primarily fresh produce and prepared foods.

As a result, in just one month after the conversion (January 2026 / year-on-year comparison), sales increased approximately 2.7 times, and the number of customers increased approximately 2 times, achieving significant growth.

■World's #1 Operating Cashier Carts! Shizuoka's 3rd Smart Store

The cashier cart is a shopping cart developed by the Trial Group, equipped with a tablet and barcode reader for self-checkout functionality. By scanning a dedicated Trial prepaid card, customers can use the cart and proceed with their shopping by scanning product barcodes. When passing through a dedicated gate, the purchase amount is deducted from the prepaid card's charge, completing cashless payment without waiting in line.

Trial's in-store signage not only features original video and photo content tailored to specific areas like the vegetable section, but also enables store-wide audio broadcasts. It can announce freshly prepared deli items in conjunction with in-store audio, and feature appealing content tailored to seasons and events.