Dallas, Texas-based 7-Eleven Inc. achieved record store growth in 2012 and expects the number of 7-Eleven stores worldwide to pass the 50,000-store mark by the end of the first quarter.
Already the world’s largest retailer by store count, 7-Eleven added nearly 5,000 stores to its worldwide portfolio in 2012. “2012 was a tremendous year for us in terms of organic store growth, acquisitions and business conversions. We expect accelerated growth in North America to continue, and we also see many more opportunities for international expansion,” said 7-Eleven Inc. President and CEO Joe DePinto.
7-Eleven’s U.S. growth strategy is to build market concentration in metropolitan areas in order to increase efficiencies and leverage the company’s scale and daily delivery infrastructure.
Last year the convenience retailer added nearly 1,000 new 7-Eleven stores in the U.S. and Canada. Worldwide, 7-Eleven’s international licensees and master franchisees also expanded aggressively adding approximately 4,000 stores.
At the close of 2012, 7-Eleven operated, franchised and licensed more than 10,000 stores in North America (including Mexico), and more than 39,000 7-Eleven stores were in Europe, Australia and Asia, for a total of approximately 49,500 stores in 16 countries.
