"I think the big reason that we're doing that is we really don't have that big a presence out there," Tim Bain, 7-Eleven franchise manager, told the newspaper.
One just opened in the former Gieger's Pharmacy in Port Orchard, said the report. Three others about to open include one that will go in its own new building in [image-nocss] front of a strip mall in South Kitsap; one in Bremerton in the same building as a Little Caesars pizzeria; and one near Kitsap Mall, 7-Eleven spokesperson Stacia Kirby told the Sun.
Lots of mom-and-pop stores have closed in the recession, giving 7-Eleven the opportunity to take over the space. "We're kind of taking advantage of that," Bain told the paper.
The chain also has reinvented itself to survive consumers' changing habits, he said.
As smoking rates have declined, 7-Eleven had to start selling more than beer and cigarettes, he said. About two years ago, the chain ramped up the freshness factor, offering sandwiches made daily and fresh produce to woo the lunchtime crowd.
"It's a really big focus for us right now," Bain said.
The four new 7-Elevens are corporate-owned and Bain is looking for potential franchise owners who have $160,000, he added.
Dallas-based 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 8,300 7-Eleven stores in North America. Globally, it operates, franchises or licenses more than 39,000 stores in 16 countries. During 2009, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $58.9 billion.
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