7-Eleven may make India foray with Future Group

US convenience store chain 7-Eleven is in talks to enter India in partnership with Kishore Biyani's Future Group. 7-Eleven is the world's largest convenience store chain with 66,000 stores across 17 countries. The deal may include Future Group operating as a master franchisee for the 'small format' convenience stores, according to the report. Future Group operates 1,444 stores in India under the brand name 'Easy Day', 'Heritage Retail' and Nilgiri's. The majority of its stores are large format. 7-Eleven's parent is Japan's Seven & i Group, which had over $100 billion in sales last year. Its entry into India will likely intensify competition among new franchises in the Indian retail sector, which has been dominated by the unorganised 'kirana' shops. New entrants include such brands as Twenty Four Seven and In & Out, with which 7-Eleven is likely to compete.