– This is the largest retail chain in the world – and soon it will also be found in Germany? There are already more than 83,000 7-Eleven stores in the world. Now the company is also looking for franchise partners in Germany.
Pastries, burgers, chilled drinks and hot coffee – in many countries, convenience stores have become an integral part of everyday life. In Germany, this principle has not been able to take root in everything. The world’s largest chain in the field now seems to want to change that: according to “Lebensmittel-Zeitung”, 7-Eleven is looking for partners in Western Europe. France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Turkey, the UK and Germany in particular are the focus of the retail giant.
According to a press release, the company, which has more than 83,000 branches in 19 countries around the world, wants to expand in Germany with a “strong branch network and innovative products.” “Convenience is a global trend and a growing market,” said 7-Eleven International Co-CEO Ken Wakabayashi. Convenience foods (convenience in German) are prepackaged or ready-made meals designed to make people’s everyday lives easier because they can be prepared in a way that saves a lot of time.
“We want to be a one-stop shop where people can get quality food and drinks quickly and conveniently, despite their busy lives,” Wakabayashi continues. 7-Eleven considers the potential of the German market to be particularly large. Sales in this segment in Germany are expected to reach more than 10 billion euros in 2023, which is why the Federal Republic is considered “the leading expansion area for the 7-Eleven brand.” So far, the company works only in Europe in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
7-Eleven plans to enter the German market.
© 7-Eleven International
The 7-Eleven range, including magazines, drinks and snacks, can also be found in most supermarkets and discounters in Germany. It remains to be seen how much the leaders Aldi, Lidl, Rewe, Edeka and Co. will have to adapt to a strong competitor and to what extent the offer will be accepted by customers in Germany. In the late 1990s, Walmart, one of the best-selling companies in the world, tried to establish a foothold in the German market with the help of supermarkets, but after a few years it had to end due to lack of success.