BrandSensitize | Strategic Brand Evaluation & Marketing Advisory

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd

1. Company Introduction and Overview

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. is a diversified retail holding company based in Tokyo. It was founded on September 1, 2005, through the merger of three companies: Ito-Yokado, Seven-Eleven Japan, and Denny’s Japan.

As the parent company of well-known brands like 7-Eleven, which operates over 85,000 stores serving 60 million customers daily across 20 countries, the company is a major player in the rapidly evolving global retail industry, combining convenience, innovation, and community involvement to transform everyday shopping.

Its portfolio includes popular brands such as 7-Eleven, Ito-Yokado, York-Benimaru, Denny’s Japan, and Loft, covering convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, and specialty stores.

Seven & i Holdings is distinguished by its integrated business model, uniting convenience stores, supermarkets, specialty shops, and financial services.

2. Financial Performance 

Seven & i Holdings reported revenue of approximately US $79 billion at the average 2025 exchange rates. 

3. Brand Uniqueness and Market Position 

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd., the parent of the global 7-Eleven chain, sets itself apart with a customer-centric, convenience-first approach that combines everyday accessibility with innovative, community-oriented retail, serving 60 million daily customers across 85,000 stores in 20 countries through a diversified model that includes stores, e-commerce, and financial services.

4. Strategic Transformation and Initiatives

Seven & i Holdings is accelerating its 2025 transformation by restructuring into three core units: convenience stores, superstores, specialty stores, and financial services. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy, including the “Green Challenge 2050” and the restructuring of 7-Eleven operations, aimed at building loyalty and meeting changing consumer needs.

Seven & I Holdings is implementing several key initiatives to boost customer engagement, focusing on digital innovation, personalized experiences, sustainability, and seamless omnichannel interactions. While many companies struggle with managing loyalty programs, the 7REWARDS Loyalty Program covers over 95 million members, encouraging repeat visits through personalized rewards, point accumulation, and exclusive offers that foster an emotional connection to improve customer experience.

Investments are being made to build a unified digital infrastructure and deploy Single Sign-On (SSO) and OpenID Connect (OIDC) applications and services for seamless transitions, thereby enhancing user adoption and cross-service engagement through the 7-Eleven app, which has over 24 million users. Listening and feedback tools are crucial for brand building. Platforms like Medallia are used for surveys, social media monitoring, and franchisee committees to gather insights, influence product offerings, and enhance in-store experiences.

Regarding in-store innovation, the company is expanding Gulp Radio to over 12,000 stores by 2025 for targeted audio engagement and is piloting AI-driven tools for personalized promotions and efficient store management. These efforts aim to provide seamless, value-driven experiences, positioning Seven & i as a customer-focused leader in the convenience retail sector, while pursuing strong growth and a greater market share.

5. Leadership and Executive Vision 

Top-notch professionals lead the company, focused on innovation, shopper experience, and sustainable growth. Izuru Nishimura is the Executive Officer and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd., and also serves as Head of the Group Digital Transformation division as of 2025.

In May 2025, Stephen Hayes Dacus became the new CEO, marking the first time a foreign leader has led Seven & i Holdings. Under his leadership, the company is pursuing global expansion, strategic realignment, and increased shareholder value.

6. Technology Integration and Innovation

The company effectively integrates technology across its outlets, using AI in various areas such as stock management, product design, and intelligent customer interaction tools. Centralized data systems and AI-powered delivery channels further streamline operations, resulting in faster, more efficient, and customer-oriented services.

 7. Strategic Partnerships 

Seven & i Holdings collaborates with a diverse range of partners, including global retailers, banking institutions, and technology providers, to expand its market presence. BrandSensitize™ showcases how Seven & i (the parent of 7-Eleven) is collaborating with innovators to improve efficiency, personalization, and sustainability.

Key technology partners in 2025 include:

  • Google Cloud powers real-time data analytics for over 21,000 stores, enabling AI-driven insights.
  • VMware (Broadcom) offers hybrid cloud solutions for unified IT operations and secure digital transformation; Nutanix provides hyperconverged scalable infrastructure across group companies.
  • Databricks delivers AI for personalized experiences and predictive analytics; Medallia monitors customer feedback and experience management through surveys and social media listening.
  • VusionGroup is implementing IoT for sustainable, real-time shelf management at Expo 2025.
  • Juniper Networks (HPE) deploys AI-native networking for reliable Wi-Fi in stores and operations.
  • Authlete enables seamless SSO and OpenID for app integrations, boosting loyalty program engagement.
  • True is sourcing AI/AR tools to streamline store operations and inventory management in North America.

8. Future Outlook 

Overall, Seven & i Holdings is well-positioned for long-term growth and innovation in the evolving retail industry. As Seven & i Holdings continues its transformation journey, it remains committed to creating value not only for shareholders but also for every customer it serves.

Seven & I Holdings leads the way in convenience, innovation, and sustainability worldwide.

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Keith Nicks is EVP and Chief Digital & Commercial Officer for Ahold Delhaize USA, overseeing
omnichannel marketing, retail media, and e-commerce for U.S. brands. Tim Bork is the Chief Commercial
Officer for Ahold Delhaize Europe & Indonesia, focusing on local brands and responsible for growth,
including marketing and customer experience.
With nearly €96 billion in projected 2025 revenue, Ahold Delhaize ranks among the top 10 global
retailers, operating over 6,700 stores across multiple formats, including Albert Heijn, Delhaize, Food Lion,
Giant, Hannaford, and Stop & Shop.
6,700 stores powered by one procurement platform – a scale that makes others jealous.
For customers, Ahold isn’t just a grocery retailer; it’s a trusted lifestyle partner that combines the
intimacy of local shopping with the innovation and value of global retail leadership.
Ahold’s brands, such as Albert Heijn, Stop & Shop, and Giant, represent 37 years of average customer
relationships—customers don’t just shop there; they grow up with these brands, creating emotional
connections that transcend transactions.
After gaining thirty million loyalty members, Ahold demonstrated that personalization consistently
outperforms promotion.
BrandSensitize™ research shows that Ahold Delhaize operates with a decentralized marketing and brand
building approach, where marketing functions are embedded within:

  • Brand-specific leadership (each local brand has its own marketing teams.
  • Regional commercial officers who oversee marketing alongside broader commercial
    responsibilities.
  • Digital and omnichannel specialists who handle modern marketing channels.
    Ahold Delhaize’s Brand Building Initiatives:
    Sustainability campaign: €50M investment reached 10M consumers, delivering a 20% boost in
    sustainable product sales and generating €400M in revenue.
    Digital Marketing: €150M digital budget achieved 25% higher engagement, 2.6% click-through rates (vs
    1.9% industry standard), and built 500K+ social media following.
    Loyalty Program: 30M members across brands with 85% customer penetration, driving 75% of total sales
    and contributing €1B annually—10% better retention than competitors.

Strategic Brand Partnerships: 100+ collaborative campaigns with CPG brands, including Coca-Cola,
generated €600M in additional revenue through joint promotions.
Omnichannel Investment: A $1 billion price investment initiative, combined with AI-powered
personalization, aims to achieve an 80% loyalty sales penetration by 2028.
Strategic marketing drives measurable business results—from sustainability messaging to digital-first
loyalty programs, Ahold Delhaize demonstrates that well-executed brand-building campaigns deliver
both customer engagement and bottom-line growth on a global scale.
Ahold Delhaize’s Strategic Technology Partnerships:

  • W23 Global VC Fund: $125M investment with Tesco, Woolworths & others backing AI startups
    like Harmonya & Protex AI
  • Zycus Partnership: Source-to-Pay suite powering procurement across 6,700+ stores globally
  • Hanshow Technology: Electronic shelf labels + innovation labs across all European locations.
  • Inmar Intelligence: $141M in customer savings delivered through personalized digital coupons.
  • DoorDash Collaboration: Tripled order volumes through enhanced last-mile delivery integration.
  • Internal AI Innovation: MaxiGPT, LionGPT & Albot assistants deployed across the Serbian,
    Belgian, and Czech markets.
  • New Tech Studio: AD/01 in Bucharest targeting 250+ tech talents for digital acceleration.
    Zycus has licensed its comprehensive Source-to-Pay suite to Ahold Delhaize, including eSourcing,
    Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM), and Supplier Management platforms.
    TCS’s relationship with Ahold Delhaize marks a mature, strategic partnership focused on digital
    transformation and supply chain technology.
    Wipro partnered with Capgemini as one of the most significant retail transformation initiatives in the
    world at Ahold USA.
    Capgemini powers Ahold Delhaize’s end-to-end transformation, developing blockchain technology use
    cases for Ahold Delhaize’s supply chain and leveraging its expertise in business transformation, as well as
    its understanding of Ahold’s industry and operations.
    Traditional retailers, equipped with AI and Robotics, will surpass pure digital players by 2030.
    The key is to position Ahold not as just another retail success story, but as the company that has
    rewritten the rules of digital transformation for every traditional business watching.