7-Eleven, Lawson plan to open 10,000 stores across Asia-Pacific

Two of the biggest Japanese c-store brands aim to expand across the region and reach a retail network of 10,000 locations by the end of February 2026.

Two of Japan’s biggest convenience store chains, 7-Eleven and Lawson, aim to open approximately 10,000 new outlets across the Asia-Pacific region.

Both brands aim to expand beyond their home operations and target growing markets such as Southeast Asia, as reported by Nikkei. As of last February, Lawson and Seven & i Holdings operated a combined network of 53,000 stores, which they aim to expand up to 63,000 by the end of February 2026.

7-Eleven and Lawson currently own a larger international network in comparison with their local outlets. This is a result of their expansion strategies across the rest of Asia, with the goal of outcompeting local players through the chains’ years of experience and quality product lineups.

Approximately 100 new stores are set to be opened in Japan in the next few years, another sign of the retailers’ shift into foreign markets.

Seven & i Holdings plans to inaugurate close to 3,600 locations across Asia-Pacific, with the aim of establishing a network of 50,000 stores throughout the continent and outside of Japan. On the other hand, Lawson has its sights on opening approximately 6,800 new sites in China and Southeast Asia, which is set to double its Asian network up to 13,000 locations.