日本麥當奴明年關閉110間分店

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

ハンバーガーチェーン最大手の「日本マクドナルドホールディングス」は、節約志向の高まりなどで外食をする人が減って既存店の売り上げが落ち込んでいることから、来年１年間で採算の悪い１１０店舗を閉鎖することになりました。

日本マクドナルドが１日発表したことし９月までの９か月間の決算によりますと、既存店の売り上げが去年の同じ時期よりも２．２％減って、本業のもうけを示す営業利益も１７．８％減少しました。
このチェーンでは、ことしの春から低価格のメニューを増やしましたが、消費者の節約志向が高まる中で外食をする人が減っていることなどから、売り上げが伸びなかったということです。
このため、来年１年間で規模が小さい店舗など採算の悪い１１０店を、閉鎖することを決めました。
また、このところ需要が高まっている宅配サービスを現在の１７店舗から来年中には全国２５０店まで拡大して売り上げの回復を図りたいとしています。
原田泳幸社長は「ただ安いだけでは需要を喚起できない。朝食メニューを強化するなどして収益を改善していきたい」と話しています。

(試譯文)

Since those who dined out had decreased in number due to their increased awareness in doing saving etc. the sales of the existing shops had gone down, "McDonald's Co. Japan Ltd. Holdings" being a major hamburger chain company would in the coming year close 110 stores that had low profit.

According to the settlement of accounts for the nine months up to September, the sales of the existing shops decreased 2.2% compared to the same time last year, and the core business profit as showed in the profit account also indicated a decreased by 17.8% this year, McDonald's Co. Japan Ltd. announced this on the 1st.

Although in the chain stores, low budget items were added in the menu since this spring, the sales did not increase because those who dined out had decreased in number due to the fact that consumers' economy-awareness had increased.

For this reason, it was decided that within the coming year to close 110 shops that were small and with low profit.

Moreover, it was supposed that the chain would like to expand the home delivery service from the present 17 stores to 250 shops across the country by the end of next year because their demand was increasing recently, and to aim at a recovery of sales.

President Harada said that "demand cannot simply be evoked just by being cheap. I would like to improve profitability by strengthening our breakfast menu."

Is it an indication that Japan’s economy is far from a total recovery?