Aeon (company) facts for kids
Headquarters in ÆON Tower, Chiba, Japan
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| Public | |
| Traded as |
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| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | September 21, 1926 (as Kabushiki gaisha Okada-ya Gofukuten, in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture) |
| Headquarters | Aeon's headquarters in Mihama-ku, Chiba,
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Japan
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Number of locations
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20,008 stores (2023) |
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Area served
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Asia |
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Key people
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Motoya Okada (岡田 元也 Okada Motoya), President |
| Services |
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| Revenue |  ¥8,176,732 million (FY 2016) |
| ¥52,707 million (FY 2016) |
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| Total assets | ¥8,225,874 million (FY 2016) |
| Total equity | ¥1,819,474 million (FY 2017) |
| Owners |
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Number of employees
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560,000+ (2023) |
| Subsidiaries |
List
Aeon Hokkaidō Aeon Tōhoku Aeon Kyūshū Aeon Ryūkyū Aeon Retail BonBelta Sunday Aeon Super Center Topvalu Collection Aeon Bike Aeon Liqour Origin Tōshū United Super Market Holdings (53.67%) Maxvalu Minami-Tōhoku Maxvalu Kantō Maxvalu Tōkai Maxvalu Hokuriku Maxvalu Nishi-nihon Aeon Market Maruetsu Kasumi Kohyo Daiei Fuji Retailing Red Cabbage Aeon Maxvalu (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. Aeon Big Ministop My Basket Bio c’ Bon Japon Marudai Sakurai Pharmacy Aeon Body Aeon Wellness Welcia Holdings (50.54%) Aeon Bank Aeon Product Finance Aeon Credit Service AFA Corporation Aeon Insurance Service Aeon Allianz Life Insurance Aeon Mortgage Loan Service Aeon Mall Aeon Town OPA Aeon Fantasy Aeon Delight Miraiya Shoten Mega Sports Aeon Eaheart |
Aeon Co., Ltd. (イオン株式会社, Ion Kabushiki gaisha, [iꜜoɴ]; sometimes spelled ÆON) is a huge Japanese company that owns many different types of stores. It is one of the biggest retail companies in Japan. Aeon owns large stores called hypermarkets, shopping malls like Aeon Mall and Aeon Town, and supermarkets such as Daiei, MaxValu, Maruetsu, and My Basket. They also own Ministop convenience stores, Welcia drugstores, and Aeon Cinema movie theaters.
Aeon's story began way back in 1758 in Japan. It started as a small shop called Shinohara-ya. Later, it was renamed Okada-ya Gofuku after the family who owned it. In 1970, Okada-ya joined with other companies to become Jusco. Over the years, Jusco grew by joining with and buying other businesses. In 2001, its name changed to Aeon. By 2010, all its big stores like Jusco and Saty were brought together under the Aeon name. In 2021, Aeon was the 17th largest retail company in the world based on how much money it made.
Contents
What Does the Name Aeon Mean?
The name Aeon comes from an old Greek word, ho aion. This word means "eternal" or "for a very long time." The company chose this name to show that they plan to be around forever!
Aeon's Journey Through Time
The company we know as Aeon today was officially started in September 1926 as Okadaya. But its roots go back even further to 1758. In 1970, Okadaya joined with two other companies, Futagi and Shiro, to form Jusco Co., Ltd. The employees chose the name "Japan United Stores Company," which is what JUSCO stands for.
Jusco stores are a type of "general merchandise store," which means they sell many different kinds of products, like a big department store combined with a supermarket. The Jusco name was used for stores in Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Thailand.
In December 1997, Aeon took over the Japanese stores of another company called Yaohan. On August 21, 2001, the company officially became Aeon Co., Ltd. The biggest Jusco store in Japan opened in 2005 in Mito. In 2008, Aeon Co., Ltd. became a "holding company." This means it became a company that owns other companies, while Aeon Retail Co., Ltd. took over running the actual stores.
By March 1, 2011, all Jusco and SATY stores in Japan changed their names to Aeon. The Jusco stores and shopping centers in Malaysia also became Aeon by March 2012. Hong Kong and Mainland China stores officially changed to Aeon on March 1, 2013.
Aeon Around the World
Aeon has expanded its business to many countries, especially in Asia.
Aeon in Malaysia
Aeon's journey in Malaysia began in 1983. The Malaysian Prime Minister at the time, Mahathir Mohamad, met with Aeon's leader, Takuya Okada. He suggested bringing Japanese supermarkets to Malaysia. Aeon started a joint company with a local supermarket chain called Cold Storage and three other Malaysian companies. This new company was called Jaya Jusco. It was a big step for a Japanese company to work so closely with Malaysian businesses in retail.
The very first Jusco store outside Japan opened in 1985 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. By 1988, Jusco was fully in charge of running its stores in Malaysia.
The oldest Jusco store still operating in Malaysia is Jusco Taman Maluri, which opened on October 30, 1989.
The Aeon Bukit Tinggi Shopping Centre in Klang, Malaysia, is the largest Aeon store in Malaysia and all of Southeast Asia. It is huge, with over 200,000 square meters of space and 5,000 parking spots.
Jusco in Malaysia was one of the first big store chains to use special bags made from sweet potatoes that break down naturally, which is good for the environment.
In March 2012, all Jusco stores and shopping centers in Malaysia were renamed Aeon. In November 2012, Aeon bought the operations of Carrefour Malaysia. All the Carrefour stores in Malaysia were then renamed Aeon BiG. This made Aeon the second-largest retail company in Malaysia. After this, Aeon planned to open 100 new stores in Malaysia by 2020.
In April 2018, Aeon opened its first mall in East Malaysia, in Kuching.
Aeon in Vietnam
The first Jusco store in Vietnam, named "AEON MALL Tan Phu Celadon," opened on January 11, 2014, in Ho Chi Minh City. On October 28, 2015, Hanoi got its first Jusco store, "AEON MALL Long Bien." Vietnam now has about 200 Jusco stores, including 6 malls and many supermarkets. Aeon announced that a new Aeon mall would open in Huế in Central Vietnam in 2024.
Aeon in Cambodia
Cambodia's first Jusco store opened on June 30, 2014, in Phnom Penh. As of September 2023, Cambodia has three Aeon Malls, all located in its capital city, Phnom Penh.
Aeon in Mainland China
In Mainland China, Aeon uses both the "Aeon" and "Jusco" names for its stores. Since 1996, Aeon Co., Ltd. has built many shopping malls called Jusco. In Guangdong, the first Jusco store opened in 1996. There are now thirteen stores in Guangdong. Aeon also has large shopping malls in Beijing and Shunde. The Jusco Mall in Qingdao, which is now called Aeon, became very popular, especially for its supermarket. In Shenzhen, Aeon has several large stores.
Aeon in Hong Kong
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Aeon Stores (Hong Kong) Co., Limited was started in Hong Kong in November 1987. It became a publicly traded company in February 1994. Aeon aims to have many stores in Hong Kong and offer good value products to its customers.
The first Jusco store in Hong Kong opened in December 1987. Hong Kong Jusco is now called Aeon Stores (Hong Kong). It runs shopping malls and other types of stores like supermarkets, discount shops, and convenience stores. They sell everyday items like food, clothes, and home goods at affordable prices. As of March 2013, there were eight Aeon General Merchandise Stores (GMS) in Hong Kong, seven Aeon Supermarkets, 22 Living Plaza by Aeon stores, and other smaller stores.
Aeon in Taiwan
Taiwan Jusco stores are part of Taiwan Aeon Stores Co., Ltd. The first Jusco in Taiwan opened in Hsinchu City in 2003. The second one opened in December 2005 in New Taipei City.
Aeon in Thailand
All Jusco stores in Bangkok, Thailand, have closed. Aeon Co., Ltd. now uses the MaxValu name for its stores there instead.
Aeon in Indonesia
The first AEON store in Indonesia opened on May 30, 2015, inside AEON Mall BSD City, near Jakarta. In September 2023, AEON opened its first store in Indonesia that was not inside an AEON Mall, located in Mall Alam Sutera. As of April 2025, Indonesia has ten Aeon stores, all located in the greater Jakarta area.
See also
- Don Quijote (store)
- Maxvalu Tokai
