What Does It Take to Create the "Convenience Store of the Future"? A Glimpse into the Osaka Expo — Part 1
What comes to mind when you hear the word "expo"?
Some might think of it as something far removed from their daily lives—an event that belongs to a distant future. Others may imagine it as a place to dream about what lies ahead.
But history tells a different story. Technologies we now take for granted—like the telephone, television, and even elevators—were once novelties introduced at world expos before becoming everyday essentials. Expos are not just places for dreaming; they offer a firsthand look at the near future.
So what does the near future look like for one of the staples of our daily lives— convenience stores?
At the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan , two "futuristic stores" are being unveiled, envisioned with the year 2030 in mind. From store design and new services to eco-conscious initiatives, these shops are packed with bold, forward-thinking ideas. At this "crossroad", we hear directly from the people shaping the "convenience store of the future."
Here Are the People We Met at this "Crossroad"
Atarashi(left) / Marketing Division
In charge of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan project. Involved in store operations as General Manager of the West Gate store.
Nagata(right) / Joined in 2023.
Appointed Store Manager of the West Gate Store in spring 2025.
Shima(left) / Marketing Division
In charge of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan project. Involved in store operations as General Manager of the Water Plaza store.
Taki(right) / Joined in 2023.
Appointed Store Manager of the Water Plaza Store in spring 2025.
Adachi(left) / Marketing Division
In charge of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan project. In charge of booth management at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion and follow-up on store operations.
Yamazaki(right) / Marketing Division
In charge of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan project. In charge of overall operations related to participation in the Expo as an administrator and secretariat.
"I Never Thought I’d Be Part of an Expo!" Members from various positions and experiences
—Compared to a typical 7-Eleven, these stores have a very different atmosphere. The Osaka Expo project began in 2023, but at that time everyone was in different departments.
Shima
7-Eleven has two stores at the Osaka Expo, and I am in charge of operating and overseeing the entire store at the Water Plaza store. Originally, I was in charge of stores inside train stations and provided on-site operational support at Osaka Station and Kyoto Station. I never dreamed that I would be doing Expo-related work.
Adachi
Same here. I’ve been involved since the start of the project, and I remember thinking, "Wait, what exactly is an Expo!?" I was nervous but also excited.
Taki
I joined the company in 2023, and from the start, I was eager to experience the "store of the future" for 2030—before anyone else! I told my supervisor how passionate I was, and that led to my appointment as store manager of the Water Plaza store. I work closely with Shima, the store supervisor, to figure out the best ways to convey the appeal of a futuristic store to our customers.
Yamazaki
I’ve been with the project since the relatively early stages to help shape what the 2030 store might look like. With experience as an OFC (Operations Field Counselor) in Kyoto and Hyogo, as well as head office roles, I have some understanding of the needs of inbound travelers. I hope I can bring that insight to this project.
Atarashi
I’m originally from the Kansai region, so when I told my manager I wanted a new challenge close to home, this opportunity was perfect. I now manage the West Gate store, working alongside Nagata, who also joined in 2023 with Taki.
Nagata
I’m also from Osaka, and it means so much to me to be given this chance in my hometown. This is my first time serving as a store manager, though, and many of the staff supporting us are very experienced, which can be a little overwhelming... But every day is a fresh learning experience!
Supporting the Future Takes Steady, Everyday Effort - the realities of the Expo store
-Although we all started from different points of view, we are now all working as one team to support the "store of the future". Now that the store is actually open for business, isn't it different from a regular store in many ways?
Taki
The major difference is that we don’t have part-time or hourly staff at the Expo stores. Instead, about 600 head office staff and OFCs rotate in to help during the Expo. But as Nagata mentioned, leading a team made up of senior colleagues as the store manager was a difficult situation!
Shima
That’s definitely something unique to the Expo. Given these unusual conditions, I think our two second-year staff members are doing an excellent job.
Taki, Nagata
Thank you very much!
Shima
Just arranging for the products to be displayed in the stores is completely different from what we normally do. We had to apply every time we wanted to bring delivery vehicles into the venue, and there are some products we cannot handle at the Expo, such as mobile batteries, alcoholic beverages, and other licensed items. We had to think a lot about how to operate the store within the rules set by the Expo Association.
Adachi
There were many challenges. For example, even disposable chopsticks are made of environmentally friendly materials produced in Japan. In fact, this was specially prepared for the Expo. These would normally be too expensive for our regular stores, but here, we wanted to offer a unique experience that’s only possible at the Expo.
There are many challenges, from big ones to small ones, but that makes it more rewarding.
Yamazaki
We are really taking on several challenges in our environmental efforts. The Expo uniforms we are wearing were originally 7-Eleven's green uniforms. We made the uniforms from old uniforms and plastic bottles.
Atarashi
There is a conflict between the futuristic and the practical. At the two Expo site restaurants, instead of placing fried foods and other fast foods next to the cash registers, customers are asked to order from a digital signage system.
Atarashi
Because we cook food after receiving orders on the spot, the cash register area is clean, and above all, we can deliver freshly prepared "delicious" products to our customers. Store members are working daily to make the cooking arrangements so that customers do not have to wait as long as possible.
How the "Future" We Once Dreamed of Has Become a Tangible Reality
-The Expo is often focused only on the glamorous side, but it’s clear that what powers it is the dedication and creativity of people like yourselves. One last question for everyone:
How does the reality you're seeing now compare with the "future" you once imagined as a child?
Atarashi
As we mentioned earlier, digital signage has transformed the way we present and sell products. The entire concept of how a store operates is evolving. I never imagined a future like this, and being part of the Expo has helped me experience it firsthand.
As a kid, I used to dream of flying through the sky like characters in my favorite manga—without needing any vehicles!
Taki
I grew up with cell phones, so I thought one day we’d be able to teleport—not just communicate with sound and images. Still waiting on that one!
Nagata
With space tourism becoming a reality, maybe it’s not so far off! When I was little, I got so excited every time a new convenience store opened in my neighborhood. I’d always wonder what kind of store it would be.
Even now, I get the same thrill whenever we launch new products like teas or smoothies. I’d love to tell my younger self: "This is what convenience stores look like in the future!"
Shima
I don't remember much from my childhood, but I joined the company 21 years ago. Back then, we still used paper for everything—including price tags. Now, at the Expo stores, all price tags are digital. You really feel the shift in the times. We’ve put a lot of thought into the small details, and I hope our customers notice and enjoy them.
Yamazaki
In the past, we thought of products as something to be placed on shelves. Want to sell more? Change the display. But here at the future store, I was amazed to see fast food items flying off the shelves just through digital signage.
It may be the Expo setting, but sales of fast food are way up compared to regular stores. It made me realize—there’s still so much we can change about how we sell things.
Adachi
Technology keeps advancing, no doubt. But these days, no matter how convenient something is, we also must ask: "Is it kind to people and the planet?" I never thought about that as a kid, but it's something we must consider now.
-The contours of what 7-Eleven might look like in 2030 are gradually coming into focus through this Expo. At the same time, challenges like sustainability are still unfolding and don’t yet have simple solutions.
In Part 2, we’ll explore the future of convenience stores from the perspectives of customer service and the franchise model.
This text has been translated using an automatic translation tool.
