Reliance Retail has shut its 7-Eleven convenience stores in India following the completion of its five-year franchise agreement with US-based convenience store chain 7-Eleven, according to industry sources.
The closure marks the end of 7-Eleven’s presence in the Indian market. Reliance Retail had been operating around 60 stores under the format, with several outlets already closed. Some stores may continue operating for a short period to clear existing inventory before shutting completely, sources said.
Reliance Retail launched 7-Eleven stores in India in October 2021 after signing a five-year master franchise agreement with 7-Eleven Inc. Employees working across the 7-Eleven operations are being absorbed into Reliance Retail’s wider grocery and neighbourhood retail businesses. This will allow the company to retain trained employees as well as the operational expertise developed during the partnership.
7-Eleven is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven-Eleven Japan, which is operated by Japanese retail holding company Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd. The closure comes as Reliance Retail continues to focus on its core grocery and neighbourhood retail formats, including Smart Bazaar, Smart Point and JioMart.
The company is increasingly directing investments towards larger grocery formats and digital commerce platforms, where scale and consumer adoption have remained key growth drivers. JioMart’s quick-commerce and hyperlocal delivery operations have also strengthened Reliance Retail’s presence in the rapidly expanding market for doorstep delivery of everyday essentials.
The development also underscores the challenges facing standalone convenience store formats in India, including high rentals, thin margins and rising operating costs. The rapid expansion of quick-commerce platforms has added further pressure by giving consumers faster access to a wider range of daily necessities without requiring a visit to a physical store.
Reliance Retail has not made an official announcement regarding the closure of its 7-Eleven stores. The retail chain had previously entered the Indian market through a partnership with Kishore Biyani-led Future Retail in 2019. The agreement was mutually terminated in 2021 after Future Retail faced financial difficulties. The company is currently undergoing liquidation proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code.
