Seven & i Holdings to shutter quarter of Ito-Yokado stores

Japanese retail giant Seven & i Holdings says it will close a quarter of its main supermarket and general merchandise outlets. The company is planning to focus on its Seven-Eleven convenience stores.

Seven & i is shuttering 33 of 126 Ito-Yokado locations in Japan by February 2026. The poor performing stores are mostly in regional cities. Seven & i says it will seek to grow in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Ito-Yokado has seen its clothing sales struggle as more people opt for specialty retailers or online sellers.

Seven & i said it will completely withdraw from operating an apparel business and focus on food sales.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230309_35/