7-Eleven Empire Architect Toshifumi Suzuki Dies at 93

Toshifumi Suzuki, the Japanese businessman credited with building the global 7-Eleven convenience-store empire, has died at the age of 93, Yuri Kageyama reported for The Associated Press (AP).

Suzuki, an honorary adviser at Seven & i Holdings, died on May 18 of heart failure at his Tokyo home, the company said.

He founded the Japanese unit that operates the widely recognized 7-Eleven “conbini” stores, which offer ready-to-eat meals, drinks, ATMs, bill payment services, and other daily essentials.

The 7-Eleven chain now operates more than 80,000 stores worldwide, making it the largest convenience-store network in Japan.

The business began in Japan in 1973 under a franchise agreement with U.S.-based Southland Corp., with the first store opening in 1974.

In the 1990s, Seven & i Holdings acquired a majority stake in the U.S. parent company, eventually making it a wholly owned subsidiary in 2005. In recent years, Canadian retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard attempted a takeover of Seven & i Holdings but withdrew in 2024 after negotiations stalled.