Japan's 7-Eleven Pushes Aggressive Global Expansion

Japanese retail giant Seven & i Holdings wants to see huge growth for its 7-Eleven convenience store chain globally, and would be accelerating its entry into Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Rocky Swift reported for Reuters.

The company is aiming to boost the global number of 7-Eleven stores 18% to about 100,000 by 2030 and for the chain to be in 30 countries and regions. I Photo: トレインファン Wikimedia Commons 

It is aiming to boost the global number of 7-Eleven stores 18% to about 100,000 by 2030 and for the chain to be in 30 countries and regions, up from 20 now. The plan is part of a large-scale restructuring that involves selling off lower-performing supermarket assets - a strategy pursued after pressure from activist investors.

Since last year, the company has announced the closure of dozens of Ito-Yokado supermarkets, exited its apparel business, and completed the sale of its Sogo & Seibu department store unit.

It also agreed to spend more than $2 billion to scoop up convenience stores in Australia and the United States. 7-Eleven North America chief Michael DePinto said the group will "continue to aggressively pursue opportunities" in mergers and acquisitions in the region.