Shaping the Future of 7-Eleven: Highlights from the CEO Summit 2025

The CEO Summit is an internal event held by 7-Eleven International where leaders of the Licensees and group companies, including SEVEN-ELEVEN HAWAII, INC., 7-Eleven (China) Investment Co., Ltd., and 7-Eleven Australia, gather from across North America, Asia, Scandinavia, and Oceania. The goal is to share best practices and insights across product development, store expansion strategies, and marketing.

The Summit opened with remarks from Wakabayashi, President & CEO of 7-Eleven International LLC. As host, he introduced each participant while weaving in episodes from different regions, and outlined the three-day program.

Wakabayashi stressed the importance of consistently maintaining high quality across all global stores. With approximately 86,000 locations worldwide, each 7-Eleven is, for customers, "the familiar store." He underscored the need to uphold the three basic principles of to clean the store, be nice to the customers, and stay in stock. At the same time, he noted that there is still room to grow in brand recognition, expressing eagerness to expand into new regions.

Next to speak was Dacus, President & CEO of Seven & i Holdings. From his position overseeing the Group's diverse operating companies, he spoke on the importance of transformation. Highlighting 7-Eleven's global scale, he noted, "Around 60 million people visit our stores worldwide each day." He emphasized the need to support customers' daily lives while contributing to society, and the importance of returning to the founding philosophy of trust and sincerity.

To the Licensees, he called for unity, scaling up, and finely tuned management rooted in each region. He also pledged that leadership would maintain close communication and provide ongoing support.

Dacus then shared a personal story: "My father once ran a 7-Eleven franchise in the United States, and I worked behind the counter of that store. The spirit of business from 50 years ago is still alive today. Now is the time to lay the foundation to pass that spirit on to the next generation." He concluded by urging action in adopting technology, responding to rapid social change, and venturing into new business fields.

In SEVEN-ELEVEN JAPAN's presentation, President Akutsu and Head of Merchandising Haishi took the stage. They both chose onigiri (rice balls) as an example to showcase the company's efforts and achievements. Alongside reflecting on the company's history of challenges and growth, they shared episodes surrounding the birth and continual refinement of this long-beloved core product.

Following their presentation, participants were served a lunch featuring  popular fresh foods of 7-Eleven in Japan. The offerings included the new "Umasa Aimori Onigiri" (rice balls), as well as classics such as the Egg Salad Sandwich, Octopus, Broccoli & Basil Salad, and Custard Cream Puff.

The Licensees showed keen interest not only in the flavors but also in the packaging, enjoying the items while conversing. The new rice balls and the sandwich, in particular, drew attention. The rice balls were sampled with special care, having just been featured in the presentation, while the egg sandwich—already known as a favorite among visitors to Japan—was praised for its fluffy bread and simple seasoning.

"The egg sandwich is always a must-have item when we come to Japan. The cream puff was delicious too. Whenever we visit, we end up eating too much," one participant remarked with a smile. Another added, "The rice balls are outstanding—not only the quality of the rice, the richness of the fillings, and the texture of the seaweed, but also the thoughtful design of the packaging."

Fiona Hayes, CEO & Managing Director of 7-Eleven Australia, commented, "The biggest benefit was that we were able to come back together. It was a wonderful opportunity to share our stories, challenges, and best practices." She reflected, "Learning about different store formats has been incredibly interesting—seeing how everyone is refreshing their brands."

Greg Hanna, President & CEO of SEVEN-ELEVEN HAWAII, INC., noted, "Some markets are adopting new methods of fresh food production, while others are focusing on customer-centric strategies and leveraging social media. These insights and ideas are valuable as we adapt and adopt them in Hawaii." He praised the proactive spirit of executives eager to learn from one another.

Cissy Yan, Chairman & General Manager of SEVEN-ELEVEN (CHINA) INVESTMENT CO., LTD., remarked, "Amid fierce competition, I was impressed by the opportunity to share common challenges with CEOs from various regions." Quoting the session's coined term "Foodvenience" (food + convenience), she reaffirmed the central role of food in the business. Looking ahead after the summit, she aims to share successful examples of digitalization and common marketing strategies within the company, expressing willingness to "work together to firmly root the brand in society."

In his closing address, Abe, Chairman of 7-Eleven International LLC, quoted Walt Disney: "Maintaining the status quo is just going backwards." He stressed the importance of continual change. He noted that 7-Eleven's upcoming 100th anniversary in 2027 is possible "precisely because we have continued to change." He urged, "Let us keep moving forward together, sharing and learning even from failure. That is the true strength of 7-Eleven."

Over three days, the CEO Summit 2025 served as a valuable forum where the leaders of 7-Eleven Licensees worldwide shared their visions and exchanged ideas for the next phase of growth. Beyond business strategies, the sharing of diverse community-supporting initiatives underscored the driving force that will continue to establish 7-Eleven as a global top brand.