7-Eleven Exits India as Reliance Closes All 31 Remaining Stores

7-Eleven's master franchisee in India closed its last 31 stores by the end of September, ending the brand's roughly five-year run in the country. A spokesperson for 7-Eleven parent company Seven & i Holdings confirmed the closures on Monday.

Reliance Retail operated every 7-Eleven location in India. The chain counted 63 stores as of December 2025, according to the spokesperson. That figure fell to 31 by September, and all remaining locations shut down before the month ended.

The exit comes about five years after Reliance first partnered with 7-Eleven to bring the convenience banner to Indian shoppers.

What does the exit mean for Seven & i's global plans?

Seven & i is best known for its operations in Japan and North America. In 2023, the company set a goal of operating in 30 countries by 2030. With India gone, that footprint now stands at 17 nations.

The arithmetic has grown harder to square with the company's current direction. A new CEO is in place, and the company has shifted toward food-focused expansion plans in North America. Against that backdrop, it is not clear whether entering new countries remains a priority, according to the report.

Still, Seven & i is not writing off India entirely.

"While our aspiration to serve customers in India remains, we look forward to exploring several options to advance our presence in the market over the long term," the Seven & i spokesperson said in a statement. "At the same time, 7-Eleven International continues to strengthen its global business across existing and new markets to drive sustainable, long-term growth."

Why did the timing matter?

The India exit lands roughly four months after Seven & i announced an organizational transformation of its international business, the unit covering operations outside Japan and North America. In June, the company created a new international business management office, which took over operations of 7-Eleven Japan's overseas business.

India is also not the first market 7-Eleven has left in recent years. The company opened its first stores in Israel in 2023. International news reports indicate those locations have since closed.

For global convenience brands weighing India, the 7-Eleven-Reliance wind-down shows that even a partnership with the country's largest retailer could not sustain the format — and that any return will depend on the "several options" Seven & i says it is still exploring.