Former chairman of Seven & i Holdings Toshifumi Suzuki, the driving force behind the global expansion of 7-Eleven convenience stores, died at age 93, the company announced.
Suzuki, revered as the “father of the convenience store” in Japan, succumbed to heart failure on May 18, the statement released on Monday confirmed.
“We extend our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown to him throughout his life and respectfully inform you of his passing,” the company’s statement read.
Suzuki pioneered the opening of the first 7-Eleven store in Japan in 1974, meticulously cultivating the venture into the world’s largest convenience store chain. His strategic vision included acquiring the struggling U.S. headquarters and integrating it as a subsidiary to rebuild the global business.
Today, the chain operates over 80,000 stores worldwide, dominating the Japanese market. These ubiquitous “conbini” outlets serve busy patrons with ready-to-eat meals like sandwiches and rice balls, beverages, snacks, ATM access, utility payment services, and copying facilities.
In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun, Suzuki revealed his personal initiative to introduce rice balls, or onigiri, to 7-Eleven shelves. This idea has since flourished, with annual sales of more than 2 billion rice balls across Japan.
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