Julian Hunt, Tokyo Japan's c-store chains are stepping up their efforts to dominate the country's booming e-tail sector. The chains have established themselves as convenient points at which consumers pay for the goods they order through online or catalogue services and the places where they pick up items. Analysts are predicting e-tail sales will be worth ¥3.2 trillion (£18bn) by 2003. Now Lawson, the country's second largest c-store chain, is in talks with up to 120 companies about offering a full e-commerce service instead of acting only as a middleman. Computer company Fujitsu, electronics giant Matsushita, trading house Mitsubishi and publisher Recruit Co are among those interested in forming a joint e-commerce venture with Lawson. The chain is also one of 14 firms reportedly to have teamed up with the telecoms ministry to develop a shopping service for digital tv, due to start next April. And a consortium of smaller c-store chains ­ Circle K, FamilyMart, Ministop, Three F and Sunkus ­ is also trying to launch an internet shopping network based around their combined 12,500 shops. The initiatives are a response to the much publicised 7dream.com service launched in January by 7-Eleven, the country's top c-store operator. This service ­ backed by bluechip firms such as Mitsui, NEC and Sony ­ aims to generate £1.7bn of sales by February 2004. Consumers will use the net or terminals in the 8,000 7-Elevens to buy products as diverse as CDs, books, holidays, and mobile phones. 7dream.com is keen to extend the range of products on offer and tap into the potential of emerging mobile phone and digital tv technologies. l 7-Eleven has launched Seven-Meal Service which will allow consumers to order ready meals or meal kits for delivery to their homes or offices. And Ito-Yokado ­ the c-store chain's parent company ­ is planning to set up a bank. Should it get the go ahead, the bank's services would be made available through 7-Eleven stores. {{NEWS }}