Japan's Seven & i Holdings plans to seek buyers for a majority stake in its supermarket businesses, including its flagship Ito-Yokado, with the process to begin as early as the end of this year, Nikkei business daily reported on Friday.

Seven & i Holdings Co. has approached potential buyers for its Ito-Yokado stores and supermarkets as it seeks to restructure in the face of a takeover approach from Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.

Eleven, is weighing a sale of shares in its supermarket unit ahead of listing the business, according to Reuters. The big picture: The convenience store giant is under activist pressure to improve earnings,

Japan's Seven & i Holdings is considering selling a stake in its supermarket unit ahead of a planned listing of the business, two sources said, as the 7-Eleven owner aims to speed up an overhaul after rejecting a takeover from Alimentation Couche-Tard.