By Tetsuya Mizuno

Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

MELBOURNE -- The 7-Eleven convenience store chain in Australia plans to increase the number of stores to more than 1,000 by 2030, said Fiona Hayes, chief executive officer of 7-Eleven Australia, at a press briefing held Tuesday.

The company, which is a subsidiary of Japanese convenience chain operator Seven & i Holdings Co., aims to expand its market by focusing on selling such food as ready-made dishes and bakery products, which is the strength of Japanese convenience stores.

The company now operates 763 stores, mainly located in cities in eastern Australia such as Melbourne. In 2025, the company opened 30 stores, the most in its history. According to Hayes, most 7-Eleven stores in Australia are part of gas stations. She added that the company aims to diversify its stores to include stand-alone stores and stores that focus mainly on food.

The 7-Eleven brand came to Australia in 1976 when a local company signed an area license agreement. Since then, the number of 7-Eleven stores has steadily increased in the country. In 2024, a subsidiary of Seven & i Holdings acquired full ownership of the operating company, similar to the business model in the United States, to accelerate the speed of decision-making.

Hayes said 7-Eleven Australia will adopt Seven-Eleven Japan's strategy of concentrating on opening stores in specific areas to boost brand recognition. It will also increase its freshly prepared food, a strength of Japanese convenience stores. "We want all Australians to say 7-Eleven is my (neighborhood) convenience store," Hayes said.

Australia is 20 times larger than Japan and expects a steady economic growth. Developing a good digital strategy is important in the country because it has a wide range of ages and a large immigrant population, according to Hayes. The Australian operator will expand its lineups of popular Japanese food items, such as egg salad sandwiches, to change the image of the Australian chain, she added.

Seven & i Holdings has placed its overseas operations, such as business in the United States, as the core of its growth strategy. It operated about 86,000 stores in 19 countries and regions as of the end of February 2025. It aims to operate 100,000 stores in 30 countries and regions by 2030. The company's business model is based on the franchise system, except for the United States, Australia and Vietnam.

The Japanese convenience chain operator plans to increase store openings in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa. Hayes said Europe has a stable population, and consumers there are seeking high-quality food. She added that it is possible to export "knowhow established here in Australia" to other countries.

Hayes has extensive experience in the retail industry and has served as CEO of 7-Eleven Australia since 2024.

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February 19, 2026 05:42 ET (10:42 GMT)

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