At the end of September 2026, shut down all 31 stores across India. Reliance Retail held the for the country.
Reliance Retail is owned by 's . The franchise itself ran through , a wholly owned Reliance Retail subsidiary.
That subsidiary reported a . Its losses have widened continuously from 52 million rupees in the year ended March 2022, according to data from .
The loss roughly equaled revenue — the franchise was losing about a dollar for every dollar it sold, which is why the shutdown reads as a reset rather than a retreat.
says it is not leaving India. A company spokesperson said it still wants to serve Indian customers and is exploring several options to grow its presence over the long term.
This was the second time the Japanese chain tried to crack India through a franchise. Its first partner, Future Retail, had its agreement terminated after it failed to open stores and pay franchisee fees.
The franchise model has now failed twice in India, which is why the next entrant is not using it.
Rival Japanese chain plans to open its first five stores in Mumbai in 2027 and reach 100 stores in India by 2030. Those stores will be through a local subsidiary Lawson will set up before February 2027.
Small-format stores in India carry high rents and full staffing costs but generate low sales per outlet, of Anand Rathi Investment Banking told CNBC. are growing in popularity with a wider selection that big-city customers prefer.
Analysts told CNBC the closures point to a reset of 7-Eleven's India operations, not an exit.