7-Eleven Philippines to Invest ?5 Billion for Expansion in 2025


Manila: Philippine Seven Corp., the operator of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain in the Southeast Asian country, plans to invest 5 billion Philippine pesos (US$85.59 million) to add more than 400 stores in 2025, the company’s Taiwanese investor has announced.



According to Focus Taiwan, the exclusive licensee to run 7-Eleven stores in the Philippines is targeting an increase of 450 stores in its ongoing expansion after growing the number of stores to 4,130 last year. This development is spearheaded by Taiwan-based UNI-President Chain Store Corp., which holds a 55.32-percent stake in Philippine Seven.



The 7-Eleven chain aims to be the first to establish a presence in the three major market regions-Luzon, Mindanao, and Visayas-in the Southeast Asian nation. Philippine Seven will focus on bolstering its market share in Mindanao and Visayas, while also opening stores in areas of Luzon where the chain currently has no stores, as stated by UNI-President Chain Store Corp., which operates the 7-Eleven chain in Taiwan.



The Taiwanese company acquired a controlling stake in the Philippine company in 2000. Despite facing annual losses in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippine company returned to profitability in 2022 and has added more than 350 stores a year since 2023, according to UNI-President Chain Store Corp.



In October 2024, Philippine Seven celebrated the opening of its 4,000th store in Pasay City, marking the chain’s 40th anniversary in the country. Uni-President Enterprises Corp. Chairman Lo Chih-hsien highlighted last year at a shareholders’ meeting that there remains significant growth potential for the 7-Eleven chain in the Philippines, given its population of 100 million.



“The sector is not too crowded, and we are the only one who runs the business efficiently,” Lo remarked regarding Philippine Seven’s operations. While the chain in the Philippines remains focused on retailing goods, 7-Eleven stores in Taiwan have shifted towards revenue generated by a range of services, according to Lo.