The food selection at Japanese convenience stores is already pretty amazing, with all sorts of snacks and meals that make them viable to-go meal options that often rival the selection and quality available at fast food and casual restaurants. Walk into a branch of 7-Eleven, for example, and the tempting offerings include bento boxed lunches, pasta, noodles, steamed buns, sandwiches, and fried chicken…and now the chain is planning to add freshly baked bread to that list.
Currently, the baked goods that line the shelves of 7-Eleven’s bread aisle are prepared at central kitchens, then shipped by truck to individual branches. 7-Eleven’s owner Seven and i Holdings, though, wants to change that system. The company is planning a major investment to install and expand its in-store cooking equipment, according to a report from Japanese public broadcaster NHK citing a source involved with the project. The 10 billion-yen project will affect roughly half of 7-Eleven’s 20,000 convenience stores in Japan, and among the planned upgrades are in-store ovens capable of baking bread to stock the branch with.
Actually, ovens capable of baking “breads” is probably the better description, since in Japan pan, the Japanese word for “bread,” also encompasses a variety of sweet and savory bread-based baked goods, such as buns filled with curry, sweet bean paste, custard cream, stir-fried noodles, or egg salad, as well as melon bread, a bun with a sweet cookie-like crust to its dome. As these are all popular Japanese convenience store staples, it’s a safe bet that 7-Eleven’s plan to start baking bread in-store encompasses these items, and isn’t limited to loaves of sandwich bread.
▼ Melon bread
There is precedent for convenience stores in Japan doing their own baking. Rival convenience store chain Daily Yamazaki, parleying the expertise of its parent company Yamazaki Baking Company, has in-store baking kitchens at some of its branches, and in-the-know shoppers will often seek those branches out since they provide the convenience of a conventional convenience store and a bakery all in one.
7-Eleven Japan’s baking initiative comes in the wake of a failed takeover bid by a Canadian party and a now-scrapped plan to take the company private, leading Seven and i Holdings looking for ways to boost its financial performance. An increased focus on bread and baked goods may also be a timely move, as currently skyrocketing prices for rice in Japan have led to similar increases in the price of convenience store onigiri (rice balls) and bento (boxed lunches, which include rice), making them much less attractive to shoppers. 7-Eleven branches won’t be getting their upgraded bread-baking kitchens, though, until February of next year.
Source: NHK via Kinisoku
Photos ©SoraNews24
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- 7-Eleven Japan gets into the sort-of-freshly baked pizza home delivery business【Video】
-- 7-Eleven opens “next generation” SIP convenience store in Japan
-- Melon bread showdown! Which Japanese convenience store melon pan is the one for you?【Taste test】
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2025/03/09/7-eleven-japan-planning-to-become-even-more-awesome-by-baking-its-own-bread-in-store/
15 Comments
Login to comment
noypikantoku
unnecessary, I just want to drop by your store to buy something that can get me through the day/night during busy days. If I want to eat good bread I'd rathergo to the local bakeshop accross the street. This will just add up to your cost.
Tye Fang
I think this is a great idea. Good, fresh and convenient food is the cornerstone.
HopeSpringsEternal
Like this bread baking idea, build a brand based on freshness and quality, the right equipment easy to do.
By the way, HIGHLY recommend the Zojurushi Home Bakery, and control the ingredients you use = Healthier!
wallace
Zojurushi Home Bakery,
Very expensive, buy a countertop oven. I use that for my bread baking. Nothing like fresh wholewheat bread without any additives for breakfast. The cooking smell is so inviting.
virusrex
Ugh, the thing I dislike the most about this chain is that as soon as they have their own version of a product they immediately stop offering other brands of the same, meanwhile Lawson, Family Mart, etc. have a wide variety of brands for most common products so I can choose when I don't like the most popular or cheapest. It is only a matter of time until 7-eleven becomes like Muji.
And for in-store baking convini, nothing compares with Daily Yamazaki.
HopeSpringsEternal
Zojiurushi home bakery's VERY Durable, so while maybe more $upfront, you'll benefit for MANY years. Usually cheaper to buy quality in the end, plus so easy to use.
Real benefit's control over ingredients, can use best whole grain flours, olive oil, yogurt, water, spices, nuts etc.
Health's priceless and time savings, just hit START and Wait while the nice smell permeates your home!
HopeSpringsEternal
Don't be sucker that stands around an oven like a schmuck, put Zoijurshi (or other quality home bakery maker) to work for you and your family!
falseflagsteve
Wouldn’t eat any ‘bread’ from a convini, it’s not really what you would call bread. No food prep will be done in these it’s putting frozen dough or partially cooked dough in an oven. A trend that’s been happening for years in the West.
Make your own bread or go to a decent bakery like Paul or Peck.
wallace
HopeSpringsEternal
No need to post insults. A bread maker makes bread. An oven makes many dishes. You don't stand around an oven while the bread is baking on a timer and on my smartphone
HopeSpringsEternal
Time is money and the Zojurushi or another quality bread maker will save you lots of time and money, along with give you control over your health destiny.
So don't be a sucker and buy unhealthy store bread or try to 'cut-corners' with a lesser home solution. Take it from someone who's VERY healthy and values health.
Hopefully 7&i goes for quality - customers will approve!
1glenn
Fresh bread is very appealing.
I remember when Sub-Way started baking their own bread......it made all the difference.
1glenn
Had a friend who baked her own bread....it was delightful. Now I wish I had asked her to teach me how to do it.
As a kid I used to go down to the bakery and bring back a loaf of fresh bread. Then supermarkets came and put the local bakeries out of business.
There used to be a bread truck that sold fresh bread and donuts right on the street, once upon a time.
Corporate bean counters figured out how to make things cheaper, but not better.
HopeSpringsEternal
Thanks for sharing Glen, get yourself a bread-maker, like the Zojurushi and you can eat all the healthy tasty bread you want! So easy, just add ingredients and push START!
Hercolobus
DAI Awesome