7-Eleven operates more than 24,000 convenience food stores worldwide. 7-Eleven stores are normally less than 3,000 square feet and carry a variety of items, including soft drinks, candy and snacks, cigarettes, milk, and t-shirts. Many stores also sell CITGO-brand gasoline. 7-Eleven faces increasing competition from other convenience store chains as well as from grocery and supermarket chains, grocery wholesalers and buying clubs, gasoline/miniconvenience stores, food stores, fast food chains, and variety, drug, and candy stores. In groups of three to four, answer the following questions:

1. Go to the 7-Eleven Web site, which is linked to the text’s Web site at duchac .swlearning.com. How did the name 7-Eleven originate?

2. How many items do you think an average 7-Eleven carries?

3. What percent of total sales is represented by gasoline sales?

4. Describe some ways that you think 7-Eleven can increase its same-store sales in the face of increasing competition.