Toshifumi Suzuki, the Japanese behind the ‘conbini’ empire, has died. He was 93. - AP News

1 of 3 |  Toshifumi Suzuki, former chairman and CEO of Seven & i Holdings Co., and former president of 7-Eleven, reacts during an interview in Tokyo, June 8, 2023. (Chika Ohshima/Kyodo News via AP) 2 of 3 |  Toshifumi Suzuki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seven & I Holdings Co., speaks in a news conference in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2005. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, File) 3 of 3 |  Toshifumi Suzuki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seven & I Holdings Co., speaks in a news conference in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2005. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, File) 1 of 3 |  Toshifumi Suzuki, former chairman and CEO of Seven & i Holdings Co., and former president of 7-Eleven, reacts during an interview in Tokyo, June 8, 2023. (Chika Ohshima/Kyodo News via AP) Toshifumi Suzuki, former chairman and CEO of Seven & i Holdings Co., and former president of 7-Eleven, reacts during an interview in Tokyo, June 8, 2023. (Chika Ohshima/Kyodo News via AP) Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More 2 of 3 |  Toshifumi Suzuki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seven & I Holdings Co., speaks in a news conference in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2005. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, File) Toshifumi Suzuki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seven & I Holdings Co., speaks in a news conference in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2005. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, File) Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More 3 of 3 |  Toshifumi Suzuki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seven & I Holdings Co., speaks in a news conference in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2005. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, File) Toshifumi Suzuki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seven & I Holdings Co., speaks in a news conference in Tokyo, Dec. 26, 2005. (AP Photo/Katsumi Kasahara, File) Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More By  YURI KAGEYAMA Updated : , ,   Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share (function () { const counter = document.getElementById("scrollToComments"); const HEADER_OFFSET = 120; function findCommentsModule() { return document.querySelector('.vf3-comments, #vf-conversations, '); } function maybeShowCounter() { if (findCommentsModule()) { counter.style.display = "inline-flex"; } else { counter.style.display = "none"; } } // Show only when Viafoura is present maybeShowCounter(); // Watch DOM for late loads const observer = new MutationObserver(maybeShowCounter); observer.observe(document.documentElement, { childList: true, subtree: true }); // Scroll action counter.addEventListener("click", function () { const el = findCommentsModule(); if (!el) return; const top = el.getBoundingClientRect().top + window.scrollY - HEADER_OFFSET; window.scrollTo({ top, behavior: "smooth" }); }); })(); .thin-line-button { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; border: 1px solid #ccc; height: 30px; padding: 0 10px; cursor: pointer; border-radius: 5px; background: none; text-align: center; font-size: 1.4rem; font-weight: 700; white-space: nowrap; flex-shrink: 0; color: inherit; transition: none; /* Remove animation effect */ } .thin-line-button { color: #000; background: white; } /* Remove hover effect */ .thin-line-button:hover { border: 1px solid #ccc; } .comment-icon { width: 20px; height: 20px; min-width: 20px; min-height: 20px; flex: 0 0 20px; object-fit: contain; display: inline-block; } .Page-actions-commentCounter .embed-caption { display: none; } .vf-comments-count.vf-is-logged-in { margin-left: 4px; } TOKYO (AP) — Toshifumi Suzuki, the Japanese businessman credited with creating the 7-Eleven convenience-chain global retail empire, has died. He was 93. Suzuki, an honorary adviser at Seven & i Holdings, died on May 18 of heart failure at his Tokyo home, the company said Monday. Suzuki founded the Japanese unit that operates the seemingly ubiquitous 7-Eleven “conbini” outlets, where busy people can hop in and grab sandwiches, rice balls, drinks, chips and other meals on-the-run, use ATMs, pay utility bills and copy documents. The 7-Eleven stores, now numbering more than 80,000 worldwide, are the biggest convenience-store chain in Japan. The business started out in Japan under a franchise agreement with the U.S. 7-Eleven in 1973. The first store opened in Japan the following year. After The Southland Corp., which founded 7-Eleven, ran into financial difficulties the Japanese company bought a majority stake in the 1990’s. It made the American counterpart its 100% owned group company in 2005. Several years ago, the Canadian retailer Alimentation Couche-Tard, which runs the global Circle K convenience store chain, sought to take over Seven & i Holdings. But it dropped the effort in 2024, citing frustration with negotiations that showed “a lack of constructive engagement.” Jim Henson’s Creature Shop opens for tours. Here’s what’s inside the once-hidden puppet studio 3 MIN READ A proposed additive ban could change New York’s pizza and bagels, some say for the better 3 MIN READ 62 Walmart wins over broader swath of consumers, but global uncertainty clouds outlook for retailers 4 MIN READ Suzuki, born in Nagano Prefecture, northern Japan, in 1932, graduated from the prestigious Chuo University in Tokyo. Before beginning his career in the convenience store business, he worked at Ito-Yokado, a major Japanese retail chain that sells a variety of products including groceries, cosmetics and clothing, which is also owned by Seven and i Holdings. Apart from leading 7-Eleven, Suzuki engineered the acquisition of Barney’s Japan in 2015 and added banking functions to the empire. He said he wanted to provide customers with what he called a lifestyle shopping experience. Over the years, the retailing giant also brought under its wing the Sogo and Seibu department stores. Suzuki became chief executive of 7-Eleven Japan in 1978. He is widely seen as having innovated how Japanese consumers shop. Convenience stores have led retailers in Japan in implementing new retail technologies. Funeral services are being held privately with family, and messages, flowers and other condolence gifts were politely declined, according to the company. Details of a public ceremony will come later, it said. Suzuki is survived by his wife and two children. YURI KAGEYAMA Kageyama covers Japan news for The Associated Press. 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