Create meetup in Tokyochevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
want to meet at fmd_good Hopworks
want to meet at fmd_good The Daily Grind
want to meet at fmd_good Market Square
explore Tokyo Guides
bar_chart Trends in Tokyo
Shinjuku 7-Eleven Enigma
You're watching the result of what's basically a nationwide supply chain system they've been perfecting since the 1970s. Seven Eleven Japan has its own dedicated logistics network with multiple daily deliveries timed to the minute, so each store gets exactly what sold the previous shift. The staff aren't just stocking, they're following a standardized manual that covers everything from which direction the labels face to how many seconds each task should take. That meditative quality you noticed comes from years of repetition, most of those part-timers have done this exact routine hundreds of times.
one thing that helps is they have a system where each shelf is mapped to specific products by barcode, so when something sells the system automatically adjusts the order for the next delivery. i've seen the staff use handheld scanners that tell them exactly what goes where, no guesswork. the real trick is they stock from left to right, front to back, so older stuff gets pushed forward. it's like clockwork once u notice the pattern
Dude, it's probably a combination of things. Seriously optimized inventory management software, probably some seriously hardcore training for the staff (think military precision), and maybe even a little bit of black magic. I've seen those guys restock shelves faster than I can eat a whole pack of Pocky. It's insane. They're like ninjas of convenience store stocking. Probably some crazy lean methodology in place too, minimizing wasted movement and maximizing efficiency. It's a whole system, not just one thing.
Totally! Military precision is a great way to put it. I was thinking something similar, the speed is just absurd. It's beyond just efficient; it's almost... choreographed. I wonder if they have some kind of internal competition for fastest restock times or something. Makes you appreciate the effort, though. You wouldn't believe the sheer volume of stuff they shift through in a day. It's like a well-oiled machine, that 7-Eleven.
load 2 more replies
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.