7-Eleven is closing hundreds of locations in 2026 and theres a surprising reason why
The world’s largest convenience store just got a little less convenient.With over 85,000 locations globally, 7-Eleven became a gas station powerhouse, operating in 20 countries.The chain has 13,000 locations across the US alone.
But stores are disappearing like the last drops from a slushie machine.During a fiscal first-quarter earnings presentation last week from 7-Eleven’s parent company, Seven & i Holdings, the chain broke down its restructuring goals.The company shared that it had closed 45 underperforming stores while opening 30 new ones.Back in April, the company revealed that 645 convenience stores would close by February 28, 2027.
7-Eleven will also be opening more than 200 within that same time period.A 7-Eleven spokesperson told C-Store Dive that 200 stores will close for underperformance, 350 will convert to wholesale sites (company-owned stores to independent operators) and 95 will shut down for other reasons — contractual or franchise terminations.So why is the world’s largest convenience store chain closing down so many spots? A larger focus on food may be the answer.While the grab-and-go chain is known for cheap gas and Slurpees, we do know that the company has been embarking on a new model, focusing on higher-quality food for customers.7-Eleven shared in the earnings presentation that globally, it has “continued to invest in fresh food, store modernization and digital capabilities to support long-term growth.”And it’s working.“These food-forward stores are resonating with our customers and driving [average sales per store day] about 18% higher than our system average,” 7-Eleven President Stan Reynolds said in the company’s fiscal Q4 earnings call. According to company documents, 7-Eleven aims to remodel over 7,000 North American locations with upgraded equipment and a fresh look.
In 2024, the chain introduced its “New Standard,” building on its “Evolution” store designs from 2019.These were stores with a much larg...