Fukuoka-based drugstore chain Cosmos took the top spot for the third year running in the annual ranking of retail companies by sales in the Kyushu-Okinawa region for fiscal 2015. Conducted by the Fukuoka Branch of Tokyo Shoko Research, the survey covers companies in the region with sales of ¥5 billion or more. In 2015, 153 companies, or three more than the previous year, were surveyed. Cosmos recorded ¥408.4 billion in sales for a 9.8% increase year-on-year. The total combined sales of all surveyed companies exceeded ¥5.5 trillion, the highest level on record since surveys began in 1986. To maintain its top position, Cosmos added 84 new stores in western Japan, while second-ranked Trial added 11. Source: Nikkei Shimbun, 10/18
