Lawson opens retail outlet

TOKYO (AP): Lawson Inc., a major Japanese convenience store operator, has set up a joint venture company with Digital Garage, Mitsubishi Corp., and Toyo Information Systems Co. to build a network of retail outlets for the payment and delivery of goods ordered online, a company spokesman said Friday.

The venture, called "econtext", is capitalized at 400 million yen (US$3.7 million), with 46 percent of that load shouldered by Lawson , 34 percent by computer system service provider Digital Garage, and 10 percent each by trading house Mitsubishi and information service provider Toyo Information Systems.

The business is aimed at establishing a common infrastructure for consumer-targeted e-commerce operators, who it will charge for use of the system.

The venture will first utilize Lawson's 7,400 convenience stores nationwide. In addition, econtext is holding talks with other retail outlet operators.