Japan’s Seven & i Holdings had been in negotiations with Żabka Group to make an investment that Japanese media reported to be worth several hundred billion yen, equivalent to several billion dollars.
But the Japanese giant announced on Saturday it had withdrawn from the proposed investment because it could not reach a deal “on terms it believed would be in the best interests of Seven & i Holdings shareholders and other partners.”
Although the talks have collapsed, the retailer said it remained committed to expanding in Europe. It described the region as “an attractive growth opportunity”, adding that it would “continue to analyze opportunities in the region that align with its strategy.”
Seven & i has been under pressure over its share price, which has fallen almost 5% in 2026.
With limited room to grow at home, the company aims to expand its presence to 30 countries and regions by 2030, from 19 currently, and Europe is viewed as a key growth pillar alongside the US and Australia.
Żabka, which listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in 2024, operated almost 13,000 stores across Poland and Romania as of the end of March 2026.
