Dallas — After shattering store growth records last year, 7-Eleven, Inc. is in line to have an even bigger year in 2012. In the U.S. and Canada alone, it plans to add 630 new stores this year.
Dallas — After shattering both its international and domestic store growth records last year, 7-Eleven, Inc. is in line to have an even bigger year in 2012. The world’s largest retailer by units added more than 4,600 stores worldwide in 2011 and plans to continue the company’s accelerated growth.
Some 600 additional stores were built, acquired or transitioned from another business to the 7-Eleven® brand in the U.S. and Canada alone during 2011. This year, 7-Eleven’s goal is to exceed that number by adding at least 630 new stores to its U.S. and Canada roster by year end.
Since 2003, 7-Eleven has almost doubled its global store count, from 25,000 to more than 46,000.
“7-Eleven’s U.S. growth strategy includes building greater market presence and adding quality locations in metropolitan areas where the company already has stores as a means to increase efficiencies and leverage the company’s scale and daily-delivery infrastructure,” says Joe DePinto, president and CEO of 7-Eleven.
“The financial strength of 7-Eleven has enabled us to grow aggressively, even in what has been a challenging economic environment for many companies in the past 4 years,” DePinto adds.
Approximately 56% of 7-Eleven’s growth in the U.S. last year was the result of several acquisitions that increased store density in New York, Florida, Illinois, Colorado and the Northwest. The most significant 2011 purchase was Wilson Farms Inc., a Buffalo, N.Y.-based convenience store chain with 188 outlets in New York.
7-Eleven is re-entering two markets — Jacksonville, Fla., and Charlotte, N.C. — where it previously had operated stores until the 1980s. The company also has announced plans to double its 20-store presence in Manhattan in the next year and grow to about 135 units by 2017.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 9,200 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, there are approximately 46,400 7-Eleven stores in 16 countries. For more information, visit www.7-Eleven.com.