The company cited slow sales, declining traffic, inflationary pressures, and a decrease in cigarette purchases among the reasons why some stores are closing.

Convenience-store chain 7-Eleven is closing hundreds of "underperforming" stores in North America, its Japanese-owner said.

A total of 444 7-Eleven stores are being shut down across North America due to underperforming, the company announced. 7-Eleven’s Japan-based parent company, Seven & I Holdings, announced in an earnings report on Thursday that a decrease in sales, inflation and smaller traffic have impacted this decision.

The 444 stores to close are among 13,000 stores the convenience chain has in the U.S. and Canada. A list of stores to close was not released by the company, which announced the plan to shutter the stores during its most recent earnings call late last week. The closures are expected to happen in the fourth quarter of this year.

The move comes as the convenience store’s parent company tries to stave off a takeover bid from the owner of competing chain Circle K. 7-Eleven is closing 444 of its “underperforming” convenience-store locations across North America,

The ubiquitous convenience store owed its recent revenue drops to inflation, declining cigarette sales and a shift in palates toward fresh food and specialty drinks.

Eleven’s Japan-based parent company, announced in an earnings report Thursday that 444 7-Eleven stores are closing because of a dip in sales, particularly cigarette sales, as well as decreased traffic and inflation.

In a bold move to adapt to a changing market, 7-Eleven is set to close 444 stores across North America, marking one of the largest restructures in the iconic convenience chain’s history. Announced by parent company Seven & I Holdings,