7-Eleven’s mission to elevate its food was one of the convenience store industry’s biggest storylines of 2024. Late last year, the Irving, Texas-based retailer launched its new store format, which offers a larger product assortment and expanded food and beverage offerings in addition to in-store seating.
At the time, 7-Eleven’s leadership said they wanted to open over 600 of these c-stores — which it has in the past referred to as its “New Standard” stores — by 2027.
7-Eleven has always offered food, mainly grab-and-go bites and roller grill dogs. And over the past decade, the company has explored branded QSRs, notably Laredo Taco Company and Raise the Roost Chicken & Biscuits.
But launching a multi-year initiative in which the company aims to open several hundred stores with a fresh food focus and in-store seating is a whole new ballgame.
For the past few months, C Store Dive have been wondering: Can 7-Eleven actually pull this off? Will consumers legitimately be saying in 2027, “Let’s go grab dinner at 7-Eleven?”
7-Eleven certainly has its work cut out if it wants to turn its stores into full-fledged food destinations. It will have to hire and retain more qualified foodservice employees, boost its portfolio of fresh food items and convince customers its grub is good.
“I believe that they can do it,” said a former 7-Eleven vice president of operations, who requested anonymity. The former exec emphasized, however, that the company must first address one major obstacle standing in its way. Getting in the right franchisees.
Full story Fueling Up: Can 7-Eleven actually pull this off? | C-Store Dive
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