A major convenience store chain expects to shutter hundreds of locations this year.
According to earnings filings released last week, its North American division plans to close 645 stores in the 2026 fiscal year—far exceeding the 205 new locations it anticipates opening during the same period.
The company’s Japan-based parent noted that some of these closures are tied to conversions into wholesale fuel locations. Financial documents also indicate the chain has been steadily expanding its wholesale fuel footprint across North America, reaching more than 900 such sites as of December 2025.
The company did not immediately explain the closures or specify which locations could be impacted. The Associated Press reached out for further information.
According to the company’s website, there are over 86,000 7-Eleven stores across 19 countries today. 7-Eleven Inc., the brand’s North American operator based in Texas, oversees more than 13,000 locations in the United States and Canada.
The convenience giant has closed hundreds of underperforming locations over the years, and the latest cuts arrive as higher prices strain consumers worldwide. The U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran has especially rattled energy markets, with drivers now facing soaring gas prices.
Consumers were facing stubborn inflation even before the war. In North America specifically, Seven & i noted in its April 9 report, “although the economy remained robust, personal consumption also began to soften” for the 2025 fiscal year — “particularly among low-income households, as inflation continued to weigh on spending.”
Openings for Seven & i subsidiaries outside of North America are set to outpace the stores they’re closing — including Seven-Eleven Japan, which expects to close 350 stores and open 550 locations, per financial filings.
Seven & i expects its revenue to fall 9.4% for the current fiscal year, totaling a projected nearly 9.45 trillion yen (about $59.5 billion).
The company has been looking for new opportunities for growth, and last year outlined a wider transformation plan aimed at boosting its convenience store offerings. Among goals, Seven & i has said it would invest in more fresh food offerings and expand its “7NOW” delivery service.
The changes also arrive under new leadership. Stephen Hayes Dacus became Seven & i’s CEO last spring.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press.