7-Eleven plans to close 645 stores in North America this year

Key Points:

• 7-Eleven plans to close 645 stores in North America in fiscal year 2026, with some closures involving conversion to wholesale fuel stores, while opening 205 new stores during the same period.
• The closures follow a trend of shuttering underperforming stores due to slowing sales, reduced foot traffic, and inflationary pressures, amid a challenging economic environment worsened by high gas prices linked to geopolitical tensions.
• Seven & i Holdings, 7-Eleven’s Japan-based parent company, expects overall revenue to decline by 9.4% to nearly 9.45 trillion yen ($59.5 billion) in the current fiscal year, despite growth plans in other regions like Japan where store openings will outpace closures.
• The company is pursuing a transformation strategy under new CEO Stephen Hayes Dacus, focusing on expanding fresh food offerings and its "7NOW" delivery service to adapt to changing consumer demands.
• 7-Eleven operates over 86,000 stores globally, with more than 13,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada managed by its North American operator based in Texas.