Why American 7-Eleven Stores Are Being Revamped to Japanese Style

Americans love 7-Eleven stores, but did you know they’re not American-owned?

Though it was founded in Texas in the 1927, 7-Eleven is now a Japanese-owned business. And 7-Elevens look so different in Japan and thrive so much.

When you go into a 7-Eleven in America, you see Slurpees and that good ol’ hot dog roller machine.

Some locations will have a suspicious looking pizza or two near the counter in a heater, but you certainly don’t go there looking for an upscale meal.

In Japan, 7-Eleven stores are way different, and some would say better. They don’t just have snacks and beverages, they have fried chicken, sushi, egg sandwiches, fresh cakes and pastries and more.

It’s more of an experience with a ton of food options to choose from, as opposed to a last ditch meal-on-the-go like here in America.

What does this mean for the 7-Eleven down the street from you?

The Wall Street Journal did a piece on “The Economics of 7-Eleven, ” that helps explain what would be involved in revamping the thousands of locations in the U.S. to look more like their Japanese counterparts. It says that the company aims to make one-third of its sales from food, up from its current level of 24 percent.

Because Japanese 7-Elevens are able to offer good food at affordable prices, it’s part of the culture in ways that our minimarts here in America fail to live up to.

That reason is one that is leading the charge of bringing the Japanese-style 7-Eleven stores here to America. Not just to future locations, but to existing ones, too.

“We believe that we need to change our business model from one that relies on gasoline and cigarettes to one in which customers choose us based on our products,” CEO of 7 & I Holdings, the company that owns 7-Eleven, says. “The key to this change is fresh food.”

Pretty soon, you might be able to grab a Big-Gulp and some sushi, all in one spot.

Evan Paul is the host of Taste of Country Nights, a syndicated radio show heard on more than 130 country radio stations nationwide, every night from 7PM to midnight. He plays the best new country music and interviews today’s top stars, like Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Dan + Shay, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Lady A, + more!