7-Eleven Completes Acquisition of 55 Sam's Mart Stores

DALLAS, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- 7-Eleven, Inc. today announced that it has commenced closing on the acquisition of 55 Sam's Mart stores from Sam's Mart LLC.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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But Slurpee® drinks and Big Bite® hot dogs aren't the only good news 7-Eleven® stores' return to the Greater Charlotte area brings.  The company has begun hiring to fill an additional 120 store positions.  7-Eleven has made job offers to personnel working at the stores the company is acquiring.  Pay and benefits will be comparable with what they had at Sam's Mart.  

"We want to provide continuity for the 350 store employees coming to us from Sam's Mart," said Doug Doyle, North Carolina native and the new market manager for 7-Eleven's operation in the greater Charlotte area.  "We also are seeking quality employees to support our stores' food-service programs that will be offered in the future."  Job applicants may go to the Careers section of 7-Eleven's website to find a link for "Find North Carolina Jobs."

Consumers will soon see Big Gulp® drinks, an assortment of roller grill items, 7-Eleven coffee and hundred's of 7-Eleven's 7-Select private-brand items as the store conversions get underway. 

The plan is to convert the 55 stores to 7-Eleven branded stores by the end of 2012. 7-Eleven will first re-brand and remodel two sites to serve as store training locations.  Here, store personnel will learn 7-Eleven systems and processes that support the daily ordering of products that their customers need and want.  Several more former Sam's Mart stores are planned for rebranding and renovation starting in March.

This acquisition is part of the convenience retailer's accelerated growth plan.  The company is committed to growing in the Charlotte area and looking for new locations nearby.   

Sam's Mart LLC will continue to operate its other 91 stores in the Charlotte and Atlanta metro areas and retain its office personnel, with the exception of several operations management staffers that 7-Eleven is hiring.

Sam's Mart was advised on this transaction by Robert L. Valentine of Trefethen Advisors, LLC.  Legal advice was provided by Garth K. Dunklin of Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman, P.A.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 9,000 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, there are more than 44,300 7-Eleven stores in 16 countries. During 2010, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $62.7 billion. 7-Eleven has been honored by a number of companies and organizations recently. Accolades include: #2 on Forbes magazine's 2011 list of Top Franchises for the Money; #4 spot on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list for 2009, #3 in Forbes magazine's Top 20 Franchises to Start, #3 among Top 100 Global Franchises by Franchise Direct, among GI Jobs magazine's Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers, #3 in Store Growth by Convenience Store News, #2 in Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise Companies, #6 in AllBusiness AllStar Franchise ranking and #29 among Top 100 Chains in Food Service.  Hispanic Magazine named 7-Eleven in its Hispanic Corporate Top 100 Companies that provide the most opportunities to Hispanics. 7-Eleven recently was selected by three diversity publications as a company offering the best career and franchisee opportunities. In addition, Symphony IRI recognized 7-Eleven in its 2009 Shopper-Centric Marketing Innovation program, and 7-Eleven received the 2010 Retailer of the Year from PL Buyer because of the company's private-label brand initiative. The company is franchising its stores in the U.S., and is expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.

SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc.