7-Eleven owner Seven & i Holdings, Tokyo, is partnering with several tech and financial companies to create a “phygital” shopping experience that combines 7-Eleven Japan's more than 20,000 stores with AI payment systems and loyalty programs.
The group announced Friday they have entered into strategic partnerships with SoftBank, PayPay and LY Corporation, and separately with Sumitomo Mitsui Card. SoftBank, PayPay and Sumitomo Mitsui Card are each investing approximately $628 million in Seven & i Holdings, totaling around $1.88 billion.
The partnership will combine physical and digital capabilities to shape next-generation customer experience and infrastructure for everyday convenience, guided by a shared aspiration to “uplift local communities and revitalize Japan” the company said.
“This partnership is an important step in further accelerating our group’s growth strategy to become customers’ first choice for convenience,” said Steve Dacus, representative director, president and CEO of Seven & i Holdings. “By combining Japan’s largest physical store network and everyday customer touchpoints with our partners’ digital platforms and expertise in AI, DX and data utilization, we will create new customer experiences where physical and digital work together seamlessly.”
Dacus said these partnerships will make everyday shopping more convenient, rewarding and personalized, while using technology to help franchise owners and employees spend more time on customer-focused tasks.
“Through these efforts, we will redefine what convenience means for each customer and accelerate innovation across the group,” he said.
- 7-Eleven is No. 1 on CSP’s 2026 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
Turning to the United States, in the first quarter of 2026, the company said it has continued to execute its North Star plan, investing in its merchandise offering, fresh food, store network modernization and customer experience.
In North America, we're accelerating the North Star plan by strengthening our merchandise offering, modernizing and optimizing our store network, and enhancing customer experience to better meet our customers’ needs and strengthen our business for the long haul. We're focused on executing our strategy, investing in the opportunities that create the greatest value for our customers and building the capabilities that will support our long-term growth,” CEO Steve Dacus said in a statement.
On July 23, the company named, Mauricio Leyva as CEO of 7-Eleven Inc., its North American convenience-store business.
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