Topic
Small-format retail chains selling food, prepared meals, and daily essentials, including 7-Eleven, Lawson, GS25, and Casey's worldwide.
South Korea's agriculture ministry survey found 20.1% of general restaurants averaged under 10,000 won per customer in 2025, down from 23.4%. Average operating margin slipped to 8.8% from 9.1%, while GS25 ready-meal and McDonald's Korea sales grew at double-digit rates.
Reality
Seven & i's quarterly profit fell as its Japanese stores weakened and high fuel prices lifted its North American 7-Eleven chain. Overseas store profit rose 19% and Japan's fell 14%, Quartz reported, so most of the group's operating profit now comes from a unit it has yet to list.
Reality
Lawson's one-topping bento boxes, priced at 200 to 300 yen, launched Sept. 16 and some sold out soon after release. For anyone reading convenience-store margins, the open question is whether each box adds a customer or replaces a pricier bento.
Reality
GS Retail said GS25's sales to North American customers rose 130.9% in January-August, lifting the region to a record of about 30% of foreign sales. Greater China still leads at about 40%, and the gain sits on top of faster growth in convenience-store sales per foreign arrival at all four big chains.
Reality
Bank of America ranks the gas station chain fifth in American pizza on a yardstick that also counts fountain drinks, which makes the real asset nearly 3,000 sites, half of them in towns of 5,000 people or fewer.
Reality
Seven Bank will put 16,000 machines into FamilyMart stores over four years. The cash logistics deal is the visible edge of a broader retreat from competing on everything.
Reality