TOKYO, Oct 4 Reuters Japan39;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 7Eleven owner aims to speed up an overhaul after rejecting a takeover from Alimentation CoucheTard.

Neither the timeline of the potential sale nor the size of the stake were immediately clear. Seven i was considering selling to an investor such as a fund, said the sources, both of whom had knowledge of the matter but declined to be identified because the information has not been made public.

The supermarket business includes the ItoYokado chain, one of Japan39;s bestknown grocery store businesses.

Seven i last month rejected a buyout offer from Canada39;s Alimentation CoucheTard saying the price was too low. The Japanese company in April said it was considering listing the supermarket business as early as the 2027 financial year.

Selling down some of its stake in the supermarket business would allow Seven i to bring in a partner that could accelerate its overhaul of the unit, one of the sources said. That would also free up its resources to better focus on its core convenience store unit, the source added.

A Seven i spokesperson said the information was not something released by the company and nothing had been decided at this time.

The Nikkei newspaper, which earlier reported that Seven i was looking to sell down its stake in the businesses, said it may disclose the plan at its earnings on…