Know How 7-Eleven Works – A Path-breaking Success Story and Business Model

7-Eleven is among the most remarkable names in the grocery and convenience market. As a leading multinational chain of convenience stores, the 7-Eleven business model mainly focuses on operating an extensive network across thousands of locations worldwide. By offering a diverse range of products in urban and suburban areas, the firm has established a vast number of convenience stores.

In this comprehensive blog, we will walk you through the key components of the 7-Eleven model, as well as gain some insights related to its various revenue streams, workflow, and other business aspects.

Just a decade ago, no one had imagined the grocery shopping experience could be this simple and comfortable. However, with the changing times, today, we have witnessed that the concept of 10-minute grocery delivery services is now becoming an integral part of our daily lives.

In fact, in America, 7-Eleven has caught the attention of the world, offering a one-stop solution.

However, this transformation raised several questions, including how will this affect to you and me? Why we should learn about the 7-Eleven business strategy? The answer lies in understanding how customers modify their shopping habits and how that will impact your brand.

By diving deep into its business strategies and revenue models, you can take inspiration and adapt it to navigate the complexities of today’s market.

Operating in over 16 countries, 7-Eleven has prioritized customers convenience. Not just that, but it has continuously innovated and refined its methods to serve customers, making their shopping experience easy and comfortable. Even today, in 2025, companies adopt trends and meet the needs of diverse markets worldwide.

We do not need to look at any statistics to determine the current and future size of the grocery market. You, I, and everyone around us are already used to on-demand services, and food delivery statistics are proof of it. The grocery delivery industry has a similar scenario. These and the upcoming days are marked by the rise of quick commerce grocery delivery apps that have mastered the art of providing comfort to people while meeting their daily grocery needs.

7-Eleven knows it.

Let’s delve deeper into understanding the 7-Eleven business.

7-Eleven aims to be the biggest and most well-known operator of convenience store outlets worldwide.

7-Eleven says,

“We strive to be the first choice for convenience for our customers—anytime, anywhere. To do that, we make our customers’ day a little more awesome by delivering fast and convenient services.”

Moreover, they also aim to create a place that customers can always rely on to deliver what they want, when they want it, and how they want it.

With this mindset, 7-Eleven was marked as the largest convenience store in the United States in 2025. It has the most locations, with 9,223 locations across 38 states and territories. It follows a straightforward business model that caters to customers seeking instant gratification.

People who want to buy food, beverages, snacks, medicine, and more at the last minute or on the go. It is open around the clock, making it more popular across the globe.

Quick Facts and Figures About 7-Eleven

Company Name: 7-Eleven, Inc

Founded In: 1927-present

Founder: Joe C. Thompson

Industry: Food and beverages

Headquarters: Dallas, United States

Company Type: Public

Website: https://www.7-eleven.com/

Number of Employees: 5000-10000

Parent Company: Seven & I Holdings Co.

Operations In: Asia, Europe, UK, North America, Oceania

7-Eleven Success Story To Watch Out

The convenience store market is quite competitive these days with both franchise and retail outlets. They are often battling for the title of “most convenient.” When we talk about convenience stores, the very first name that comes to mind is 7-Eleven.

Initially, it started with a bright idea to make life a little easier for its customers by selling everyday staples from the dock of a local icehouse in Dallas, Texas. Including beer and liquor has significantly impacted the company’s growth.

Within a few years, it has tripled the number of outlets, and they are also selling a range of new product lines. Formerly, stores were popularly known as Tote’s stores; however, in 1946, to reflect the new extended hours from 7 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week, the name was changed from Tote’s stores to 7-Eleven.

In 1980, the company expanded its operations and opened stores in Sweden, Norway, Taiwan, and other popular countries. Sadly, 7-Eleven’s parent company ran into financial loss in the same year due to the stock market crash.

However, they did not lose hope, and in 1987, Japan’s largest convenience store company acquired them, and 7-Eleven re-established itself as one of the leading American convenience store chains, continuing to grow to this day.

Today, 7-Eleven is one of the most popular franchises, with more than 45,000 stores across the globe, and the majority of them are located in high-traffic areas to drive more traffic. It opened 2100+ net new stores in 2020.

Fun Fact: 7-Eleven was the first convenience store to offer ATM service, gas, and coffee to go.

Its success story is quite amazing and inspiring; from the Great Depression to bankruptcy, it faced challenges and is still standing at the top.

Today, it is one of the renowned convenience stores worldwide, and its Japan and other units are the most valuable assets of 7-Eleven.

7-Eleven Business Model: What Has Made Them Successful?

The 7-Eleven business model is fascinating; it primarily serves customers across 17 countries globally, especially in Asia and the Americas.

Its core business provides value to its consumers in certain ways:

How Does 7-Eleven Benefit Its Users?

• Best store for people who are on the go and looking for a one-stop shop to buy everyday products.
• People can easily get breakfast, lunch, and dinner from its 24-hour operational stores.
• It also offers financial and payment services in certain areas.

Key Partners

7-Eleven works with different partners in the operation of its business in Japan and overseas.

These partners fall into the following categories:

Supplier Partners

This comprises various food outlet companies and retailers that provide food and beverages that are sold at 7-Eleven’s stores.

Franchise Partners

This includes various companies and entrepreneurs that operate 7-Eleven stores on behalf of them.

Branding Partners

It comprises various marketing and branding companies that collaborate with 7-Eleven on business and marketing projects.

Key Resources

7-Eleven’s major resources include its products and services, suppliers, infrastructure, and its retail locations.

It also depends on its IT infrastructure, particularly related to its online store and mobile app.

Working worldwide, 7-Eleven has collaborated with its franchisees, making them a key resource in its business model.

Understanding 7-Eleven Franchise Business Model

Traditional

For business scaling, they lease the store, land, and equipment to the franchise owners and provide training and support. It is a tailored model for the assertive growth of the business.

Business Conversion Program

Pre-established and existing properties like gas stations and small grocery stores are converted into 7-Eleven stores. Or even currently, vacant sites are being developed into new 7-Eleven convenience stores.

Non-traditional

This franchise method includes locations with captive audience venues like airport terminals, transportation hubs, malls, hotels, and more. A team of architects, interior designers, and merchandisers customizes each store with the brand.

7-Eleven Revenue Channels: How Does It Make Money?

7-Eleven generates revenue through the virtual sale of snacks, drinks, and other products to customers via its retail stores, as well as through sales made online and via its delivery services.

Moreover, 7-Eleven generates revenue through various channels, including sales from its stores, financial services, and fuel sales. It also generates income from franchising fees that companies pay to operate stores worldwide.

Additionally, 7-Eleven operates under various brands, including Speedway and Stripes Convenience Stores, which co-exist alongside its namesake stores in several American markets.

Latest Innovations

As we have said earlier, 7-Eleven’s nonstop innovations have made them one of the world’s most popular and largest brands. Let’s have a look at a few of them.

7 Reward App

Launched in 2012, the 7 Reward App has millions of users, as it offers exclusive offers and allows them to find nearby stores for home delivery. To get attractive deals and discounts, users can install the App Store and the Play Store.

Bill Pay App

The Bill Pay App allows users to pay local bills by scanning barcodes. Launched in 2011, this app enables USA customers to make payments on various bills. Users can install it from the Play Store and App Store.

7-Eleven Now

This is an online app that allows users to have products delivered to their doorstep. Consumers can order from an extensive range of options, making their delivery experience more convenient. Right now, this app only works in the USA.

Moreover, 7-Eleven also partnered with Postmates in 2015 to make doorstep delivery easy and hassle-free in San Francisco and Oakland.

How Much Does It Cost to Develop an App Like 7-Eleven?

These days, the demand for on-demand services is increasing because it enables entrepreneurs to handle regular operations with ease. This may be why more and more business owners are developing an app like 7-Eleven to maximize their profitability.

The cost of developing an app comprises many factors. If you want to build a 7-Eleven like app and know the precise cost, you should appoint a food delivery app development company that has vast knowledge and domain expertise. Several other factors that affect the costing include:

• Business needs,
• Features,
• The development team and its location,
• Number of platforms you want to target,
• Design,
• Testing, and so on.

The more modern features and functionalities you want to implement in your app, the more time and budget you need to build it. If you are launching a new business and looking for a cost-effective solution, you can opt for ready-made solutions, as they save you money and time because the development team won’t need to spend time writing long lines of code.

However, if you opt for custom solutions and create a 7-Eleven app clone from scratch, the app development costs will increase.

How Can a 7-Eleven Like App Help Your Business Thrive?

Today, the mobile application market is highly competitive. To stay strong in this competitive world, companies are starting to rely on digital solutions that enhance their revenue and increase customer retention. Not only are businesses appreciating such food delivery platforms, but customers also do, as they provide convenience and affordable products.

Now, if the 7-Eleven business model also inspires you to build your app like 7-Eleven, then leveraging our ready-made script would be the perfect choice. We provide a customized, highly flexible, and stable high-tech solution that helps you grow your business effectively.