NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 Convenience chain 7-Eleven expects to close hundreds of its locations this year.<\/p>\n
According to earnings filings published last week, 7-Eleven\u2019s North American operator plans to close 645 stores in the 2026 fiscal year \u2014 outpacing the 205 locations it forecasts it will open during that same time.<\/p>\n
Seven & i Holdings Co., the Japan-based parent of the convenience chain, noted that these closures \u201cinclude the conversion to wholesale fuel stores.\u201d Financial documents show that 7-Eleven Inc. has steadily opened new wholesale fuel stores in North America over recent years, which accounted for more than 900 locations as of December 2025.<\/p>\n
The company did not immediately explain the closures or specify which locations could be impacted. The Associated Press reached out for further information.<\/p>\n
According to the company\u2019s website, there are over 86,000 7-Eleven stores across 19 countries today. 7-Eleven Inc., the brand\u2019s North American operator based in Texas, oversees more than 13,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\n
The convenience giant has closed hundreds of underperforming locations over the years, and the latest cuts arrive as higher prices strain consumers<\/a> worldwide. The U.S. and Israel\u2019s war against Iran has especially rattled energy markets<\/a>, with drivers now facing soaring gas prices<\/a>.<\/p>\n Consumers were facing stubborn inflation even before the war. In North America specifically, Seven & i noted in its April 9 report, \u201calthough the economy remained robust, personal consumption also began to soften\u201d for the 2025 fiscal year \u2014 \u201cparticularly among low-income households, as inflation continued to weigh on spending.\u201d<\/p>\n Openings for Seven & i subsidiaries outside of North America are set to outpace the stores they\u2019re closing \u2014 including Seven-Eleven Japan, which expects to close 350 stores and open 550 locations, per financial filings.<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n 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 \u201c7NOW\u201d delivery service.<\/p>\n