TOKYO - Zensho Holdings Co., operator of the beef bowl chain Sukiya, is quietly testing a new frontier with a little-known convenience store brand called "Sakura Mikura" as it looks to adapt to shifting consumer demand in Japan.

The chain, which emphasizes freshly prepared in-store meals, remains small, with just 10 outlets across the Kanto region. The company has disclosed few details about its long-term strategy, describing the venture as experimental.