Seven & i Holdings in final talks to acquire stake in Poland's Żabka Group

Japan’s Seven & i Holdings, the owner of the 7‑Eleven chain, is in advanced negotiations to purchase a significant minority stake in Żabka Group, Poland’s leading convenience‑store operator with more than 13,000 outlets in Poland and Romania. The deal, valued at several hundred billion yen (a few billion USD), would give the Japanese retailer a foothold in Eastern Europe and supports its goal of expanding its global network to roughly 100,000 stores by 2030.

The news pushed Seven & i shares up about 3 % in Tokyo and sent Żabka’s Warsaw‑listed shares soaring 11‑13 %. Analysts note the move follows Seven & i’s recent strategic reshaping, including the sale of its supermarket business to Bain Capital and earlier acquisitions such as Speedway and the Australian 7‑Eleven chain. A market strategist said, “Unlike its previous acquisitions, Żabka doesn’t need to be banged into shape.” The transaction has not been formally confirmed by either party, but reports from Nikkei, Reuters and Bloomberg describe the negotiations as being in their final stage.