Which Japanese company owns the 7-Eleven convenience-store chain?

Seven & i Holdings owns the 7-Eleven convenience-store chain.

Seven & i Holdings is a Japanese diversified retail group formed in 2005 through the reorganization of Ito-Yokado and its related businesses. Its principal operations include 7-Eleven convenience stores, Ito-Yokado supermarkets and other retail services.

The group’s connection to 7-Eleven reflects the chain’s unusual corporate history. The original American convenience-store business was acquired by the Japanese affiliate Ito-Yokado in 1991 after Southland Corporation entered bankruptcy protection. The Japanese business later became the dominant force in the global 7-Eleven system.

The name Seven & i refers to the group’s retail interests, including 7-Eleven and Ito-Yokado. It should not be confused with Aeon, another major Japanese retail group that operates supermarkets and other businesses.