On September 24, 2026, Taiwanese media Chinatimes reported on the background behind the convenience store '7-Eleven' in Thailand surpassing Japan in store density and becoming an indispensable service hub for local life.

The article, citing reports from Japanese media, introduced that 7-Eleven's presence in Thailand is stronger than in Japan, and the number of stores is estimated to have reached 15,945 by the end of 2025. This accounts for approximately 70% of Japan's approximately 21,900 stores, and considering that Thailand's population of approximately 70.3 million is less than 60% of Japan's, the article stated that the store density per capita is approximately 27% higher than in Japan.

It then explained that the background behind 7-Eleven's ability to establish a vast business foundation in Thailand is its continuous store opening strategy spanning over 30 years. It further explained that after CP ALL, the local operating company, acquired the licensing rights in Thailand in 1988 and opened its first store in '89, it has intensively expanded stores in residential areas, business districts, schools, tourist spots, and along main roads, thereby enhancing brand recognition and improving logistics efficiency.

Furthermore, as a feature of Thai stores, it cited the emphasis on 'freshly made' items, stating that they widely offer services such as reheating hot food, on-site preparation of hot sandwiches, and beverage customization, meeting the demand for immediate consumption by having staff grill items after payment at the register.

According to the article, although street stalls and food trucks are widely popular in Thailand, consumers differentiate between markets, street stalls, and convenience stores as needed.

Moreover, the dense store network also demonstrates strength in logistics, allowing customers to order meals, beverages, and daily necessities from nearby stores via the delivery service '7Delivery' for prompt delivery, and the online store 'ALL ONLINE' complements the product selection of physical stores. It is estimated that online sales, including 7Delivery, will reach approximately 11% of total sales in 2025.

The article introduced that Thailand boasts the world's third-highest convenience store density per capita, following Taiwan and South Korea. It also reported that while multiple brands compete in Taiwan and South Korea, 7-Eleven in Thailand had secured approximately 70% of the market share as of '24, indicating a particularly prominent presence. (Edited and translated by Kawashiri)