7-Eleven has reached a significant milestone celebrating the 45th anniversary since opening its first store in Oakleigh, Victoria on 24 August 1977.
7-Eleven has been an Australian-owned and operated business since the beginning, and since that very first store 45 years ago, it has grown to now being a network of more than 720 franchised and corporate stores, with a team of more than 8,800 people.
In 1976, the Withers and Barlow family invested in one of the earliest global license agreements to take the 7-Eleven brand outside of the USA. As a result, 7-Eleven changed the face of convenience in Australia.
These early stores provided local customers with the products they needed, when and where they needed them in their local area. They had easy parking out front and extended trading hours of 7am to 11pm, including weekends. 7-Eleven opened its first 24-hour store six months after the first store opened.
Angus McKay, Managing Director, and CEO of 7-Eleven Australia said that even before the first store officially opened, the ad campaigns around its opening focused on the commitment 7-Eleven would have on providing stores that would save people time in their day.
“I am proud that over the last 45 years, 7-Eleven has delivered on that promise,” he says.
“While a lot has changed about the range we offer, in essence we’re still all about providing great service while making it easy for customers, saving time in their day. And we are continuing to invest in food, format, and digital solutions to meet our customers’ needs as we look towards the future.
“Our first 45 years and what we have achieved together is testament to the efforts of many people including our founders the Withers and Barlow family, and the franchisees, store team members, and support office people that have been part of our history so far.
“I am honoured to be leading the extraordinary team who are working together to ensure this iconic brand continues to change the face of convenience in Australia over the next 45 years.”
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