Seven & i Holdings, parent company of 7-Eleven, is looking to accelerate global growth in 2026, the company’s president and CEO Stephen Hayes Dacus told employees in a New Year’s Address this week.
Dacus said the company will accelerate global growth by focusing on four key areas: “delivering value that exceeds our customers’ expectations, strengthening digital convenience and the last-mile experience, advancing our food leadership and cost control.”
The CEO also highlighted that inflationary pressures remain elevated for both the company and its consumers. “In this environment, our customers are becoming increasingly value conscious. They are thinking more carefully about where and how they spend their money and are becoming more selective about what they purchase, as they balance rising prices with their everyday needs. … Against this backdrop, our strong product development capabilities, our unparalleled store network and our powerful partnerships with franchise owners and business partners are significant strengths. Above all, the dedication of our employees, who engage with our customers every day, is our greatest competitive advantage and the key to winning in a challenging environment.”
Dacus added that embracing and anticipating change will be critical for the company in the upcoming year.
“As we begin the new year, I would like to revisit what we mean by ‘embracing change.’ Embracing change means constantly anticipating change, getting ahead of customers and creating new experiences and behaviors. ... To be a trusted brand that can grow globally, we need a shared culture. With this in mind, we are redefining what it means to be 7-Eleven as a global brand and driving the cultural transformation needed to accelerate our global growth. 2026 will be a turning point for our company. Together, as one global team, we will deliver the transformation that defines our next decade of growth,” Dacus wrote.
In 2025, Seven & i said it plans to open around 1,000 new convenience stores in Japan and 1,300 in North America as part of a growth strategy through the year ending February 2031. “It is extremely important that we undergo changes now,” Dacus said in a press conference at the time. “We will change the way we run our business from the very beginning.”