Japanese retail giant Seven & i Holdings, the owner of the global 7-Eleven convenience store chain, is reportedly in talks to acquire a significant stake in Żabka Group, Poland’s largest convenience store operator. According to the Japanese business daily Nikkei, the negotiations are in their final stage, although neither company has officially confirmed that an agreement has been reached.
Seven & i may acquire a double-digit stake in Żabka
According to information published by Nikkei, Seven & i Holdings is considering purchasing Żabka shares currently held by investment funds. The potential investment is estimated to be worth several hundred billion yen, equivalent to several billion US dollars.
Speaking at a press conference, Poland’s Finance Minister Andrzej Domański said that, according to the government’s understanding, the Japanese company is considering the acquisition of a double-digit percentage stake in Żabka. If completed, the transaction would make Seven & i a significant shareholder rather than giving it full control of the Polish retailer.
The exact number of shares under discussion, the potential purchase price and the identities of the selling shareholders have not been disclosed. Despite reports that the negotiations are advanced, they could still end without a final agreement.
Status as of 16 July 2026:
- According to Nikkei, negotiations are in their final stage.
- The discussions reportedly concern the acquisition of a double-digit stake in Żabka.
- The investment is estimated at several hundred billion yen, equivalent to several billion US dollars.
- Seven & i has not issued an official statement.
- Żabka has not confirmed that any agreement has been reached.
- The final terms of the potential transaction remain unknown.
Seven & i continues to focus on convenience retail
A potential investment in Żabka would be consistent with Seven & i’s strategy of focusing on its core convenience store business. The Japanese retailer has faced pressure from investors in recent years to improve profitability, simplify its corporate structure and concentrate on expanding the globally recognised 7-Eleven brand.
Seven & i operates thousands of 7-Eleven stores worldwide, with its largest markets being Japan and the United States. As part of its portfolio restructuring, the company agreed to sell its supermarket business, operating under separate retail brands, to private equity firm Bain Capital.
Acquiring a stake in Żabka would represent one of Seven & i’s most significant strategic moves in Europe and could substantially strengthen its presence in Central and Eastern Europe.
Żabka continues expanding in Poland and Romania
Żabka Group has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since October 2024. According to the company’s latest figures, its ecosystem now includes more than 13,000 physical stores, with the overwhelming majority operating under a franchise model in Poland.
The Group is also expanding in Romania under the Froo brand while continuing to invest in digital services, logistics, food-to-go, home delivery and technologies designed to improve customer convenience.
In May 2026, Żabka announced its planned CEO succession. Tomasz Blicharski, currently responsible for strategy and development within the Group, is expected to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2027, subject to shareholder approval.
Blicharski has previously described 7-Eleven as an important benchmark for Żabka’s long-term development. In his view, Europe’s convenience retail market remains highly fragmented, creating an opportunity to build a large, pan-European convenience store network.
What could the deal mean for Żabka?
Until either company issues an official statement, the proposed transaction should be regarded as unconfirmed. The key questions concern the size of the stake, the valuation of the shares and the role a new strategic investor could play in shaping Żabka’s long-term development.
It also remains unclear whether Seven & i’s involvement would be limited to a financial investment or extend to operational cooperation. The transfer of expertise, technology and operational know-how developed by the 7-Eleven network could support Żabka’s further expansion in logistics, food services, digital retail and international growth.
For existing shareholders, the arrival of a globally recognised industry partner could reinforce confidence in Żabka’s business model and strengthen the company’s position in the ongoing consolidation of Europe’s convenience retail market.
At this stage, however, there is no basis for concluding that the transaction will be completed, determining its final value or predicting Seven & i’s future role within Żabka Group.
