TOKYO – Snacks, beverages, newspapers, toiletries, ATMs, copy machines, event ticket sales, medicines, bill paying, prepared food and fresh coffee—these are just a few of the many things offered by Japanese convenience stores. These days, more “conbinis,” as the Japanese call the stores, are adding home delivery, Japan Times reports.

7-11 and FamilyMart both provide the service, as a way to cater to the elderly and working mothers. The first convenience store chain that advertised home delivery (in 1996) was am/pm Japan. Customers phoned or faxed-in orders from a catalog.

A few years later, Lawson, FamilyMart and 7-11 added delivery for orders place via their websites. This year, Lawson started Smart Kitchen, an online delivery company that stocks 23,000 items mostly appealing toward working women, including 10-minute cooking kits.

“We also aim to use the knowledge we already have with Natural Lawson, which (is particularly geared toward) young women and has a lineup of healthy food items like yogurt and salads,” said Ming Li, public relations officer at Lawson. Already, 3 million have signed up for Smart Kitchen, which projects a profitable operation by fiscal year 2014.

In December 2012, FamilyMart bought Senior Life Create, a bento delivery service for the elderly. The company also brings sundry items sold at FamilyMart stores, in addition to the boxed lunches.

Meanwhile, 7-11 has extended its Seven Meal delivery service. During the summer, the company employed Toyota Coms, electric vehicles with insulated boxes to deliver foods at the right temperatures. Most delivery services are offered free.

“The customers can easily order things like toilet paper or mineral water together with a meal when they drop in at the store, and have them delivered to their doors later,” said Mayumi Ito, public relations officer at 7-11 Japan Co. “I think the customers feel comfortable when they see a familiar face deliver items from a store they usually shop at.”