Updated on: April 14, 2026 / 10:12 PM EDT / CBS/AP
7-Eleven plans to close 645 stores in North America in fiscal year 2026, according to earnings filings from the convenience chain published last week. Seven & i Holdings Co., the Japan-based parent of the chain, said the closures “include the conversion to wholesale fuel stores.” Financial filings show 7-Eleven Inc. has steadily opened wholesale fuel locations in North America in recent years, totaling more than 900 sites as of December 2025.
The chain’s North American operator forecast it will open 205 stores during the same period, meaning openings will be outpaced by closures. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reasons for the shutdowns. 7-Eleven has closed hundreds of “underperforming” stores in recent years, citing pressures such as slowing sales, decreased foot traffic and inflationary costs.
According to the company’s website, there are more than 86,000 7-Eleven stores across 19 countries. 7-Eleven Inc., the North American operator based in Texas, oversees more than 13,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
The latest closures come as higher prices strain consumers worldwide. The U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran has especially rattled energy markets, contributing to soaring gas prices. Seven & i’s April 9 report said that although the economy remained robust for the 2025 fiscal year, “personal consumption also began to soften,” particularly among low-income households as inflation weighed on spending.
Openings among Seven & i subsidiaries outside North America are expected to outpace closures. Seven-Eleven Japan projects it will close 350 stores and open 550. Seven & i expects revenue to fall about 9.4% for the current fiscal year, to nearly 9.45 trillion yen (about $59.5 billion). The company is pursuing growth opportunities and a broader transformation plan to boost convenience-store offerings, including more fresh food and expansion of its “7NOW” delivery service. Stephen Hayes Dacus became Seven & i’s CEO last spring.