Disaster Countermeasures and Support for Disaster-affected Areas
Basic Approach
FamilyMart has been appointed as “Designated Public Institution” by the Prime Minister in accordance with Article 2, item (v) of the Basic Act on Disaster Control Measures. Designated public institutions play important roles in efforts such as drafting disaster management operation plans, preventing disasters, and carrying out response measures and recovery efforts, and so take a variety of actions indicated in the following.
- Installation of FamilyMart Station
In September 2022, we installed satellite communication equipment atop our head office and opened the FamilyMart Station. This satellite communication line allows us to engage with the central disaster preparation radio network, linking the Prime Minister’s Office, central government establishments, designated public institutions, and other nationwide disaster preparation organizations.
- Regional support in the event of disasters
When disaster strikes, FamilyMart leverages its extensive nationwide logistics network to offer its coordinated transport capabilities to those in need and provide emergency relief supplies. Its stores make themselves available as evacuation sites for locals. For this reason, we have forged agreements with every prefecture for the provision of disaster relief supplies. Our channels for assistance remain open around the clock, 365 days a year, with our Disaster Relief Supplies Support Team swiftly responding to any requests. This team is comprised of personnel from various pertinent departments within the company.
Should some localized supply chains be disrupted, neighboring sites will support the procurement of materials and delivery to the stores so that they can play a role as social and life infrastructure by utilizing the nationwide logistics network.
- Actions on ready-made meals production
We are equalizing production of ready-made meals during ordinary times so that production of products with long shelf life and ones that can be provided with short production time will not centralized to a few particular factories.
- Disaster recovery support
FamilyMart has systems in place for the disaster recovery stage as well. Its employees directly visit disaster-affected areas as relief workers and carry out recovery activities to ensure that normal life can be restored for the people as soon as possible.
- Strengthening store resilience: Building disaster-ready retail spaces
The Company has also installed small power generators at its business sites across Japan. This enables power supply to its storesin the event of a disaster. The Company is building a system that can remain operational even during disasters, thereby creating stores that provide strong support in the face of such challenges.
- Establishment of BCP (business continuity plan)
FamilyMart has implemented a robust Business Continuity Plan (BCP) aimed at mitigating adverse effects on customers, local communities, and stakeholders in the event of significant disasters or emergencies. Our BCP is designed to safeguard our head office functions, ensure the stability of outsourced ready-made meal manufacturing partners, and maintain an unswerving logistics network. Additionally, the plan encompasses strategic guidelines for managing store operations in the affected areas.
Support for Disaster-affected Areas through Fund-raising at Stores
When a massive disaster strikes in Japan or any other part of the world, FamilyMart has a system in place to switch the fund-raising at stores to “Donations of Relief Money” to help support the disaster-affected areas.
We have contributed relief money to many disaster-affected areas with generous cooperation from our customers.
Donations of Relief Money from 2020 to 2022
| Fiscal year | Campaign | Amount (yen) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Donation for the July 2020 Torrential Rain Disaster Relief | 34,795,224 |
| 2021 | Donation for disaster relief due to heavy rains since July 1, 2021 | 1,040,418 |
| Donation for the August 2021 Torrential Rain Disaster Relief | 19,856,520 | |
| 2022 | Storefront Donation for Torrential Rain Disaster Relief Fund in August 2022 | 18,154,931 |
| Storefront Donation for Typhoon No. 15 Disaster Relief Fund (Shizuoka Prefecture) | 786,991 | |
| 2023 | Storefront Donations for Earthquake Disasters in Turkey and Syria | 95,163,156* |
FamilyMart participates in the Social Emergency Management Alliance (SEMA), Japan's first such initiative led by a corporation
FamilyMart agrees with the aims of the Social Emergency Management Alliance (SEMA)* and has participated since it was originally established in August 2017. Made up of 17 private firms and 6 NPOs providing disaster relief, the alliance provides a full range of support that includes providing the goods and services of each company in the event of large-scale natural disasters that occur in Japan.
The alliance maintains a current list of the goods and services of each member company and group, and the list is used by each company to prepare support packages and quickly provide them to affected regions. The alliance also seamlessly coordinates with public agencies with the goal of reducing the burden on local governments in affected regions.
*Consists of a corporate alliance of private-sector companies and a CSO alliance of citizens’ groups. As of April 2023, members included 74 companies and six citizens’ groups.
SEMA overview
Continued Support for Disaster-affected Areas
FamilyMart provides various kinds of ongoing support for those affected by major disasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011) and the Kumamoto Earthquake (2016).
Local Seaweed Sales Workshops for Children
FamilyMart employees visit elementary, junior high and high schools as workshop instructors. This effort began in 2012 in cooperation with Save the Children Japan, which supports children in disaster-affected areas, for which we held a sales workshop at Matsusaki Junior High School in the city of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, a place that suffered enormous damage from the destructive effects of the post-quake tsunami. The workshop is part of the school’s integrated studies program on the cultivation and sale of local wakame seaweed. As the tsunami had swept away all the cultivation facilities and painstakingly cultivated seaweed, we began the workshop in the hope of lending what support we could to students involved in rebuilding this local industry. Employees provided instruction on various sales techniques related to greetings, customer service and the creation of promotion materials.
Since 2012, our employees have visited schools as workshop instructors every year as our continuous initiative. In fiscal year 2022, we held the sessions in 71 schools with 4,599 children taking the sessions.
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Lecturing how to sales to students by FamilyMart employee -
Local seaweed sales workshop for children
Enhancing Risk Awareness of Natural Disasters and Accidents
FamilyMart has implemented safety confirmation drills for its head office employees on a quarterly basis, aiming to cultivate a heightened sense of risk awareness regarding natural disasters and accidents. Extending this initiative further, in 2018, approximately 16,500 stores nationwide incorporated this training into their safety protocols. This step was taken with the overarching goal of promoting risk awareness across the entire FamilyMart Group, including Franchised Stores. Furthermore, both store managers and staff members are equipped with the FamilyMart Emergency Action Manual, which they are directed to carry at all times.
This manual is available in both Japanese and English versions to cater to the needs of our foreign staff. The comprehensive manual outlines protocols to follow during disasters following a significant earthquake and offers guidance for preemptive measures in anticipation of potential disasters. Its contents are specifically structured to enable individual stores to identify suitable evacuation sites and maintain essential emergency contact information, ensuring preparedness in times of crisis.