Convenience Leader 7-Eleven® Continues to Redefine the Industry

Looking for a franchise investment that delivers in multiple ways under one roof? The value of convenience has never been higher. 

With over 69,000 locations in more than 17 countries, 7-Eleven is the global leader in the convenience store industry, which accounts for over $650 billion in annual sales in the U.S. alone—outpacing both drugstores and supermarkets. 

With an expanded product selection, round-the-clock operations and numerous locations, convenience store franchises are what the masses are craving—and they expect more from a store than ever before. 7-Eleven has it all. 

It’s no wonder. Founded in 1927, 7-Eleven invented convenience. The beloved brand was the first to operate 24/7, offer to-go coffee and ATMs, and sell gas. 7-Eleven also introduced the world to the Slurpee^®, Big Gulp^®, Big Bite^® and a truckload of other proprietary goods and services. In fact, our founder Joe C. Thompson Jr. was famous for always saying, “Give the customers what they want, when and where they want it.” 7-Eleven is now the fourth largest retailer of coffee in the U.S. and leads the way in an industry that now sells an estimated 80 percent of the nation’s fuel.

7-Eleven continues to redefine convenience. The brand remains nimble in the relentless pursuit of innovative ways to help Franchisees connect to customers and run their stores more efficiently. Franchisee Sukhi Sandhu from Stockton, California agrees. “The technology was one of the main reasons I became a 7-Eleven Franchisee,” he says. “7-Eleven is constantly evolving, always improving.”

This customer obsession drives digital and product innovation, such as the 7Rewards^® loyalty program, Mobile Checkout, the 7NOW™ mobile delivery app, heat-and-eat meals and a proprietary cold-pressed juice program. 

7-Eleven customers also expect higher quality and value. The company has responded with healthy food offerings and gourmet quality items sold under its 7-Select brand. This private brand assortment has grown from just 87 items in 2008 to more than 1,500 items—with more on the way, providing a big boost to the bottom lines of Franchisees. 

Since 2013, 7-Eleven’s private brand products have shown double-digit sales increases across all categories, and many of these products are outselling national brands that have been around for years. The company expects its private brands business to surpass $1 billion this year. 

“Customers today are much more demanding than they have been in the past, not just in how they want to shop, but what they want to shop for, how they want to pay for it and how they want to receive products,” says 7-Eleven Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Tanco. “The store of the future has to anticipate the customer’s needs, sometimes even before they know what they want, and give them what they want quickly, conveniently and at a great value.”

7-Eleven continues to innovate on behalf of its customers and is always on the lookout for innovative companies that have a fresh take on a product, a healthier alternative or a unique flavor that might become the next big food trend.  

All this success means growth, and it shows. 7-Eleven posted historic operating income in 2019. Same-store sales saw a comparable-store sales increase during the first quarter of 2019, with fresh food and 7-Select private brand products driving results.

For multi-unit owners, staying ahead of the innovation curve means more opportunities with a brand that consistently ranks as a top-10 franchisor. 7-Eleven  offers continuous opportunities and is a smart way to keep revenue flowing 24/7, 365 days a year. In fact, it’s practically recession-proof.  

Multiple stores give owners the ability to transfer resources, employees and merchandise between locations to optimize inventory and save loads of time, effort and money.

The possibilities are endless. Ready to multiply your franchise success? Head over to franchise.7-eleven.com/franchise/multi-unit.

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