Inflationary pressures and broader economic uncertainty have affected Seven & i Holdings’ convenience-store business in the United States and abroad.
President and CEO Stephen Dacus shared this Thursday in the 7-Eleven parent company's earnings report for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, which ended Aug. 31.
“This trend is not new, and consumers are continuing to tighten their spending and be cautious about what they purchase. This has led to a decline in shopping frequency generally and our 7-Eleven stores in each market are no exception,” he said, according to a transcript from financial services site AlphaSense.
In the United States, Dacus said 7-Eleven continues to see pressure on low-income households as the cost of living climbs.
- 7-Eleven is No. 1 on CSP’s 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
“Overall, convenience-store traffic is under pressure, driven by online and delivery alternatives, reduced cigarette consumption, continued work from home, cuts to the supplemental nutritional benefits program, and the gradual decline in demand for fuel,” Dacus said, according to AlphaSense.
Seven & i reported that its North American revenues from operations in the second quarter of 2025 were about $13.1 billion—a drop from revenues of about $16 billion in second-quarter 2024.
The push for food-forward convenience stores
Dacus emphasized on Thursday’s call that U.S. consumers demand “ever-greater quality and value in food-forward convenience stores with fresh grab-and-go options.”
In August, following the failed takeover attempt by rival global c-store retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., Seven & i Holdings said it was embarking on a “transformation of 7-Eleven.” This transformation included a push to open about 1,300 new large-format, food-focused U.S. c-stores by 2030.
“[U.S. consumers] expect seamless digital and delivery choices, and they want larger, cleaner and more contemporary formats that fit their lifestyle,” Dacus said on Thursday’s call. “Our strategy is to meet and exceed these expectations. We are elevating food and beverage quality, expanding fresh offerings and strengthening our private label portfolio to deliver more choice and value. In parallel, we are repositioning 7-Eleven as a food destination through advanced fresh programs, signature items and investments in restaurant formats.”
Dacus also said the company is scaling its 7NOW delivery an enhancing its rewards program.
“Based on learnings from our Evolution stores, our new standard store format reflects what customers are asking for, larger food-forward, digital-first stores with enhanced fuel offers. This is setting the foundation for our future growth,” he said.
While 7-Eleven is growing its food-focused stores, it saw a net decrease of stores this summer. 7-Eleven had 30 new store openings and 155 closings between May and August 2025, according to its second-quarter update. In October 2024, it announced it would close 444 underperforming stores in North America.
Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven— known for its Slurpee, Big Bite and Big Gulp brands—operates, franchises or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the United States and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven, the company operates and franchises Speedway and Stripes c-stores and the Laredo Taco Company, and Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits restaurant brands.
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