7-Eleven

In 1927, John Jefferson Green and Joe C. 'Jodie' Thompson established the first convenience store by selling milk, eggs, and bread through the retail ice dock of the Dallas Southland Ice Company.

Changed their name to 'Tote’m Stores' to reflect their dedication to providing convenience to customers. The new name symbolized their mission of helping customers 'tote' their essential items home conveniently.

In 1931, 7-Eleven was on the verge of bankruptcy due to overwhelming financial strain. However, the company underwent reorganization and receivership, with the assistance of W. W. Overton Jr., a Dallas banker, who played a crucial role in stabilizing the company's finances.

In 1946, Southland Corporation changed the name of its franchise to 7-Eleven to reflect the stores' new operating hours from 7 am to 11 pm, which was a pioneering concept at that time. This rebranding was part of the company's post-war recovery efforts.

During a management meeting in Washington, D.C. in 1956, John Thompson observed the potential of densely populated areas for 7-Eleven stores due to their long operating hours and unique stock offerings. This realization led to a shift in focus towards high-traffic locations for store sites.

In 1961, Joseph Thompson appointed his son John as the second president of Southland, marking a significant leadership change. John Thompson aimed to significantly increase Southland's sales from $100 million to $1 billion within a decade.

Southland's expansion strategy in the early 1960s included acquiring Midwest Dairy Products in 1962, which provided production facilities and branches in several states. This move marked the company's entry into the dairy market.

In 1963, 7-Eleven experimented with a 24-hour schedule in Austin, Texas, after observing customer demand for round-the-clock service. This initiative eventually led to the establishment of 24-hour stores in various locations, including Fort Worth, Dallas, and Las Vegas.

The iconic Slurpee, a popular iced drink, was introduced by 7-Eleven in 1966. This innovative beverage quickly became one of the company's signature products and a beloved choice for customers.

In 1972, 7-Eleven committed to the operation of 24-hour stores despite challenges like high employee turnover and insufficient security systems. The number of 24-hour 7-Eleven stores significantly increased by the end of 1975.

In 1974, the 5,000th 7-Eleven store opened in Dallas at the site of John Jefferson's original ice dock.

In 1976, the first 7-Eleven store opened in Monterrey, Mexico, in association with Grupo Chapa and 7-Eleven, Inc. It was initially named Super 7 and later rebranded to 7-Eleven, becoming the second-largest convenience store chain in the country.

In December 1973, negotiations for the introduction of 7-Eleven to Japan were completed, and by late 1978, 188 7-Eleven stores were open for business in Japan.

The first 7-Eleven shop in Hong Kong opened in Happy Valley on April 3, 1981, marking the beginning of the chain's presence in the territory.

In October 1990, the heavily indebted Southland Corp. filed for a pre-packaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy to transfer control of 70% of the company to Japanese affiliate Ito-Yokado. This was a result of financial struggles post the management buyout.

In 1991, Ito-Yokado, the parent company of Seven-Eleven Japan, acquired a significant 70% stake in 7-Eleven, Inc. This acquisition marked a pivotal moment in the company's history, leading to transformative changes.

In 1995, the Super 7 stores in Mexico were renamed to 7-Eleven, which now operates 1,835 stores across several areas of the country, positioning itself as the second-largest convenience store chain in Mexico.

Norihiko Shirouzu and Jon Bigness report on 7-Eleven operators' opposition to a system designed to monitor managers in the Wall Street Journal.

Jeff D. Opdyke reports on 7-Eleven's trial of check-cashing services in Texas stores in the Wall Street Journal.

In September 1998, Southland Corporation announced plans to revamp the stagnant 7-Eleven chain, as covered by the Wall Street Journal.

Softbank and 7-Eleven Japan collaborate to sell books online as the e-commerce industry expands.

On September 1, 2005, Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. became the parent company of 7-Eleven in Japan, consolidating its position as the leading convenience store chain in the country.

In 2007, 7-Eleven's North American operations were ranked No. 11 by Supermarket News in the 'Top 75 North American Food Retailers', based on estimated sales of US$15.0 billion in the 2006 fiscal year.

In December 2010, 7-Eleven signed an agreement with Exxon-Mobil to acquire 183 sites in Florida, expanding its presence in the region.

In August 2011, 7-Eleven acquired 51 ExxonMobil sites in North Texas, further strengthening its network in the area.

In 2012, 7-Eleven reduced the size of the Double Gulp from 64 oz. to 50 oz. Speculations arose about the reason behind this change, with some attributing it to local regulations while 7-Eleven claimed it was due to cupholder compatibility.

Within two years of opening its 40,000th store, 7-Eleven achieved the remarkable milestone of 60,000 stores, highlighting its rapid expansion.

In July 2014, 7-Eleven Taiwan celebrated the opening of its 5,000th store, marking a significant milestone in its presence in Taiwan.

In August 2015, Fairfax Media and ABC's Four Corners programme revealed that many 7-Eleven employees in Australia were being underpaid by franchisees, well below the legally-required minimum wage. The investigation uncovered fraudulent practices where employees were paid based on falsified records, resulting in significant wage theft.

In September 2015, chairman Russ Withers and chief executive Warren Wilmot resigned from 7-Eleven following the scandal of underpayment and wage fraud. Deputy chairman Michael Smith and interim chief executive Bob Baily were appointed as replacements.

In December 2015, Stewart Levitt announced a class action lawsuit against 7-Eleven on behalf of franchisees who were allegedly misled into signing with the company. 7-Eleven also offered to pay $25 million in back-pay claims, with a split payment arrangement between head office and franchisees.

7-Eleven received the Thailand’s Most Admired Brand award for four consecutive years from the research organized by BrandAge, being selected as the leader among convenience store retailers.

In January 2018, 7-Eleven Taiwan opened an experimental and unstaffed shop called the X-Store, introducing a new concept in convenience store operations.

In November 2018, the parent company of 7-Eleven stores in Thailand, CP All Public Company, announced their intent to reduce and eventually end the use of single-use plastic bags, showing a commitment to environmental sustainability.

On March 2, 2020, 7-Eleven, Inc. announced the acquisition of over 100 independently operated 7-Eleven stores in Oklahoma, integrating them into the national branding and marketing strategies.

On July 11, 2020, 7-Eleven celebrated '7-Eleven Day' by offering free small-size Slurpees. This tradition started in 2008 and is a popular event among customers, with one exception in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On August 2, 2020, Seven & i Holdings revealed plans to purchase Speedway LLC for $21 billion, marking a significant deal in the convenience store industry.

The acquisition deal of Speedway LLC by Seven & i Holdings was finalized on May 14, 2021, reshaping the landscape of the convenience store market.

On July 11, 2021, 7-Eleven Philippines celebrated its 94th founding anniversary by opening its 3,000th store in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

On August 30, 2021, 7-Eleven and Thailand's CP Group inaugurated the first 7-Eleven outlet in Phnom Penh's Chroy Changvar district, with plans for more stores in the city.

On October 7, 2021, Reliance Retail announced a partnership with 7-Eleven to open stores in India, marking the entry of the popular convenience store chain into the Indian market.