Fujitsu and AEON Food Style Co-Develop AI Agent to Support Store Managers in Strategic Store Operations

Under its 'Uvance for Retail' initiative, which aims to drive sustainable growth in the retail sector through data and AI, Fujitsu announces the launch of pilot testing in July 2026 for an AI agent developed jointly with AEON Food Style Co., Ltd. (Note 1) (hereinafter, AEON Food Style). This AI agent will support store operations such as strategic planning and sales floor layout, with the pilot aiming to verify its effectiveness in accelerating decision-making, standardizing processes, and improving operational efficiency. Going forward, Fujitsu will continue to validate the effectiveness of AI agent utilization through this pilot and further support AEON Food Style in advancing store management and business operations.

Background

In the retail industry, chronic labor shortages continue to worsen, and store manager roles in particular involve diverse responsibilities heavily dependent on individual experience and skills, leading to challenges such as task personalization and knowledge silos. AEON Food Style was established on March 1, 2026, through the integration of MaxValu Kanto, Daiei's Kanto operations, and AEON Market. Amid declining population and increasingly diverse consumer needs, the company has partnered with Fujitsu to promote the use of an AI agent that supports store managers in making faster decisions and executing strategic store operations consistently across all locations.

Overview

In developing this AI agent, Fujitsu’s Forward Deployed Engineers (FDEs) and designers identified common operational tasks across the integrated companies’ store operations. They then defined the ideal store manager profile for AEON Food Style and established an optimal operational process model (business model) for store management. Within this framework, four prototype AI agents were developed in approximately ten days to collaboratively support store managers in high-priority tasks such as strategic planning, shelf layout design, feasibility assessment of initiatives, and trade area analysis. This pilot will test two of these AI agents in actual store environments.

Implementation Period: Several days in July 2026 (planned) Target Operations and Verification Objectives

Store Strategic Planning

The AI agent will support analysis based on the 3C framework and assist in formulating medium- to long-term store strategies. The pilot will evaluate effectiveness by measuring reductions in store managers’ planning time and the adoption rate of AI-generated plans. Additionally, it will assess the agent’s utility in training new managers following personnel transfers and in standardizing practical operations.

Shelf Layout

The AI agent will generate detailed shelf layout plans and visual layout concepts, incorporating headquarters’ display guidelines, product information, and individual store characteristics. The pilot will verify improvements in operational efficiency—from layout creation to instructions for sales floor staff—as well as enhanced communication through shared visual layout concepts.

Next Steps

Based on the pilot results, Fujitsu will work with AEON Food Style to explore improvements in AI agent accuracy, expansion of application scope, and further pilot tests aimed at increasing sales. Fujitsu aims to develop a multi-AI agent system for retail, where multiple AI agents collaborate autonomously to execute tasks, starting with store manager support. Through 'Uvance for Retail,' the company will continue to drive innovation in customer and employee experiences, strengthening competitiveness and enabling sustainable growth in the retail industry.

Note 1: AEON Food Style Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Mr. Akira Hirata

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Related Link: Uvance for Retail | Fujitsu

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