7-Eleven

7-Eleven started in 1927 as an ice house in Dallas, Texas, run by the Southland Ice Company. An enterprising employee began selling milk, bread, and eggs from the storefront, and the convenience store was born. By the late 1920s, these outlets were called Tote'm Stores, decorated with totem poles to suggest customers would 'tote' their purchases home. The name changed to 7-Eleven in 1946 when the stores began opening from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, a radical idea at the time.

The company started franchising in 1961, fueling rapid U.S. growth. In 1973, Japanese retailer Ito-Yokado signed a franchise agreement, opening the first Japanese 7-Eleven in Tokyo in 1974. That partnership proved transformative: Ito-Yokado eventually acquired a controlling stake in the struggling Southland Corporation, and by 2005, 7-Eleven became a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd., based in Tokyo. Today, the brand operates more than 86,000 stores across 19 countries, making it the largest convenience store chain in the world by store count.

7-Eleven is known for pioneering extended hours, self-serve fountain drinks like the Big Gulp, and frozen Slurpee beverages. Its stores stock a mix of packaged snacks, fresh foods, household essentials, and often offer services like ATMs and bill payment. The brand's global reach is especially strong in Japan, where over 21,000 stores serve everything from rice balls to hot fried chicken, tailored to local tastes. In the U.S., 7-Eleven remains a ubiquitous roadside stop, with a loyal following for its coffee and hot dogs. [edit]