7-Eleven Plans to Close 645 Stores as It Pivots to a Food-Centric Model
Convenience store behemoth, 7-Eleven, has announced its plan to close 645 stores across North America during its 2026 fiscal year (March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027). This news comes as per the recent earnings filing by its parent company, Seven & i Holdings.
This marks the fifth year in a row that the iconic, nearly century-old chain has closed more stores than it has opened. Over 600 locations have already been shut down in 2024 and 2025 combined. Despite plans to open 205 new stores during the same period, the net reduction underscores a significant strategic shift towards larger-format stores that offer an expanded range of fresh food.
As 7-Eleven gears up for a 2027 initial public offering of its North American business, this shift comes into play. Originally scheduled for 2026, the IPO has been postponed to give management more time to optimize the portfolio. Some of the stores slated for closure will be transformed into “wholesale fuel stores” that operate solely as gas stations, without the convenience store component.
This transformation reflects wider industry trends, with convenience stores now competing more on food quality than just fuel and tobacco. 7-Eleven has been rolling out Japanese-inspired menu items such as miso ramen, chicken teriyaki rice balls, and Japanese-style egg salad sandwiches, aiming to attract customers in search of quick, quality meals.
Source: The Street