"Although we have 7-Eleven stores on a few airport properties in North America, this will be our first located inside security and directly across from departure and arrival [image-nocss] gates," said Dan Porter, 7-Eleven's development vice president.
"7-Eleven is all about convenience," Porter said, "and our proprietary merchandising and logistics systems are prepared to serve the daily needs of both busy travelers and terminal employees. Dallas-Fort Worth is home town for us, so it makes sense that our first U.S. outlet of this type is at DFW Airport."
Plans call for 7-Eleven's Slurpee, Big Gulp and Big Bite brands with an emphasis on fresh foods and bakery items that are delivered daily to be part of the store's product mix. Among other selections for hungry travelers will be hot foods, including pizza, potato wedges and chicken tenders.
7-Eleven also boasts healthier offerings, such as several sizes of pre-made salads, fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, sandwiches and low-calorie beverages.
To provide travelers with value options, 7-Eleven will offer value-priced grocery, packaged snacks and bakery items under its 7-Select private brand. 7-Select is the company's exclusive line of food and other products developed to compete on taste and quality with name brands, but at prices 10 to 20% less.
For travelers' convenience, the 7-Eleven store will have refills that meet travel restrictions in addition to emergency, health and beauty items and popular magazines.
While this store will not be operating 24 hours, the 7-Eleven will be available to serve late-night customers when flights are delayed.
Operating the store will be Dallas-based Ray Quintanilla, who will become a 7-Eleven franchisee under 7-Eleven's business conversion program, and LS Travel Retail North America, a subsidiary of the world's largest magazine publisher and operator of nearly 4,000 "transit-oriented" stores worldwide. Quintanilla already owns a number of concessions at DFW Airport and has been serving customers there for 22 years.
They will lend their expertise to ensure customers have books and publications that reflect the interests of customers passing through Terminal A.
"7-Eleven already serves 40 million customers a day and is well known in many countries," said Ken Buchanan, executive vice president for revenue management at DFW Airport. "The company's commitment to quality and customer service along with LS Travel Retail North America's know-how and Ray's experience should make this a successful operation and popular with travelers and airport personnel."
7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses approximately 8,600 7-Eleven stores in North America. Globally, there are more than 41,200 7-Eleven stores in 16 countries. During 2010, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $62.7 billion. The company is franchising its U.S. stores and is expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program.
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