AI inspires Japan’s convenience stores

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 20, 2026

Japanese convenience store chains Lawson and FamilyMart are using artificial intelligence to create innovative desserts, such as a pickle-flavored lemon tart and a sweet potato canelé, which will be launched in the coming weeks. This approach highlights a shift toward practical and creative uses of AI in food development, contrasting with global concerns about the technology’s risks.

In Japan, major convenience store chains are harnessing artificial intelligence to develop innovative dessert offerings, marking a shift from the technology’s widely publicized existential risks to a more creative application in food development.

Lawson, one of Japan’s largest convenience store operators, announced plans to introduce three new products this month in Tokyo and surrounding areas. These include a pickle-flavored lemon tart and a bread roll filled with red bean paste, margarine, and yoghurt cream. The company said these items were created using AI to generate ideas beyond conventional market trends or historical sales data. “To generate ideas unconstrained by existing ways of thinking or market trends, we used AI during brainstorming,” a Lawson press release stated.

FamilyMart, another leading convenience store chain, is also leveraging AI to inform product creation. By analyzing sales data through AI, FamilyMart developed a French-style “canele” pastry incorporating sweet potato puree in the dough and topped with caramel sauce. The dessert is scheduled to be available across Japan next week. A company spokeswoman said AI was primarily employed for brainstorming, while human specialists continued to oversee product development.

This is not FamilyMart’s first venture using AI in product innovation. In July, the chain test-marketed a biscuit sandwich filled with thick milk cream, which was well received. Encouraged by that success, FamilyMart intends to expand AI-driven product rollouts in the coming months.

These developments come amid heightened global attention on artificial intelligence, where concerns about so-called “superintelligent” AI systems and their potential to surpass human control have prompted calls for regulatory measures. Leading U.S.-based AI research laboratories have advocated for a coordinated slowdown in their advanced work to address safety risks. However, in Japan, retailers are demonstrating practical, customer-focused applications of AI to create new food experiences, signaling a different facet of the technology’s integration into everyday life.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.