TOKYO -- Japanese supermarket operator Aeon's operating profit for the year ended February will likely rise 4% to 185 billion yen ($1.67 billion), thanks largely to stronger sales of private-brand products as well as cost reductions.
That total would fall short of the retailing giant's expectations of a 7% jump to 190 billion yen, but would land near the market consensus of 185.8 billion yen. Operating revenue, the equivalent of sales, grew slightly from the previous year to 8.2 trillion yen.
