7-Eleven is an international conglomerate which operates the largest chain of convenience stores in twenty countries including: the United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Republic of China (Taiwan), People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and South Africa.

The company was founded in Oak Cliff, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, in 1927, and started to use the 7-Eleven name in 1946; the previous branding of these stores was as "Speedee-Mart". The majority of today's 7-Eleven stores are operated in Japan since the Japanese-based company Ito-Yokado purchased the majority interest from Southland Corporation in 1991. Also in 1991, Southland Corporation changed its name to 7-Eleven, Inc.

Initially, these stores used to be open from 7 am to 11 pm, hence the name; however, most 7-Eleven stores are now open twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. 7-Eleven's most popular private label products include: Slurpees, a partially frozen slurry in a number of flavors, and the Big Gulp super size soft drink in 32, 44, 52, and 64 (American) fluid ounce sizes.

In the United States and Canada, a limited number of 7-Eleven locations have gas stations with gasoline distributed by Citgo and Shell Canada, respectively.

In certain American states, such as California, 7-Eleven is the only large stand-alone convenience store chain in operation, and is thus synonymous with the term "convenience store." (See genericized trademark.) Residents of such states are usually surprised by the diversity of convenience store chains in other parts of the world.

Additionally, in the states where 7-Eleven stores sell gasoline, a common reaction from those who live in other states is, "7-Eleven's sell gasoline?" The response from those in the area where 7-Eleven's do sell petroleum is "There are 7-Eleven's that don't sell gasoline?" The mutual recognition and confusion is a testament to the ubiquity of 7-Eleven stores.

7-Eleven stores are not present at all in some states, however, such as Minnesota and Wisconsin. In those states, other convience stores like SuperAmerica and Speedway occupy the same market.

External links

• 7-Eleven
• Ito-Yokado's (parent company) website
• 7-11 in Taiwan
• 7-Eleven in Thailand