ABOUT US
7-Eleven Stores Pty. Ltd. is an Australian company privately owned by the Withers/Barlow family. The company develops and franchises 7-Eleven stores in Australia under license from 7-Eleven Inc. of Dallas, Texas.
As at July 2010, 7-Eleven operates 406 stores along the eastern seaboard of Australia. To find a store, please click here.
The Beginnings of 7-Eleven
7-Eleven Inc. (formally the Southland Ice Company) pioneered the concept of convenience stores in 1927 in the USA. In addition to ice, Southland began selling groceries on weekends when other businesses were closed. The name 7-Eleven was introduced in 1947 to highlight the stores opening hours; from 7am to 11pm, 7 days a week.
In 1968, Southland began to license its operation across the United States, and in 1974 commenced licensing internationally with stores opening in Japan. In 2005, 7-Eleven Inc. became a subsidiary of Seven & I Holdings, a Japanese based company.
After 65 years experience in the grocery and wholesaling business, the Withers family identified that supermarket chains were growing rapidly throughout the early 1970’s, but milk bars and small grocery stores were relatively unchanged and were suffering continuous erosion. Knowing the success of convenience stores in the USA, Russell Withers went about bringing the convenience store concept to Australia. The first 7-Eleven Australia store opened in the Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh on the 24th August 1977.
Today there are over 38,000 7-Eleven stores operating worldwide in 16 countries.
To find out more about 7-Eleven and our key milestones, see below.
1927 Southland Ice Company
In addition to selling blocks of ice to refrigerate food, Johnny Green, an enterprising employee, began offering milk, bread and eggs on Sundays and evenings when grocery stores were closed. This new business idea produced satisfied customers and increased sales, and convenience retailing was born.
1946 A New Name
The company’s first convenience outlets were known as Tote’m stores since customers “toted” away their purchases, and some even sported genuine Alaskan totem poles in front. In 1946, Tote’m became 7-Eleven to reflect the stores’ new, extended hours – 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. seven days a week.
50's & 60's An Expanding Time in America
The post war boom in America saw the massive expansion of 7-Eleven convenience stores across the USA.
Customers demanded choice both in products they wanted to purchase and the times they wanted to shop.
1977 Australian 7-Eleven
The first Australian 7-Eleven store opens on the 24th August 1977 in the Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh.
1978 First 24 Hour & Franchised Stores Open
The first 24 hour site opens in Brunswick, Melbourne and the first franchised site opens in another Melbourne suburb, Caulfield.
1978 We start selling Fuel
The first store to sell petrol opens in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern.
1981 We arrive in Sydney
Our first Sydney store in Botany Road, Waterloo opened on September 1st, 1981.
1982 First Brisbane Store
The first store in Brisbane opened in Redcliffe on June 10th, 1982.
1986 100th Store
7-Eleven Australia’s 100th store was opened in Sunshine, Melbourne.
1995 Melbourne CBD
The first store opens in the Melbourne CBD on August 2nd, 1995.
1997 Franchisor of the Year
In October 1997, the Franchisors Association of Australia names 7-Eleven 'Franchisor of the Year'.
2000 New Acquisition
7-Eleven purchases approximately 50 Burmah fuel sites and converts them to 7-Eleven stores.
2002 7-Eleven Celebrates 25 Years
In August 2002, 7-Eleven celebrates 25 years of retailing in Australia.
2003 300th Store
7-Eleven’s 300th store at 234 George Street Sydney was opened by famed cricketer, Shane Warne, on Friday June 19th, 2003.
2005 350th Store
Store number 350 opens in Graceville, Queensland.
2007 30 years in Australia
In August 2007, 7-Eleven reached the milestone of 30 years in Australia.
2008 Franchisor of the Year
7-Eleven was awarded 'Franchisor of the Year' by the Franchise Council of Australia.
2009 Food Concept Store
To meet customer demand for good food and coffee on the go, 7-Eleven opens a new concept store in the Melbourne and Sydney CBD.
2009 Awarded Franchisor of the Year for 2nd Consecutive Year
We are awarded established 'Franchisor of the Year' in the MYOB Excellence in Franchising Awards.
2009 10 Million Slurpees Sold
In 2009, 7-Eleven sells more than 10 million cups of Slurpee in one year!
2010 7-Eleven Acquires Mobil Fuels Retail Business
On the 27th May 2010, 7-Eleven announced the acquisition of the Mobil Fuels Retail Business.
2010 7-Eleven achieves over 400 stores!
As at July 2010 there are 406 7-Eleven stores operating in Australia. To find a store, please click here.
