Part of the energy driving the potential merger between Seven & i Holdings and Alimentation Couche-Tard is to create a national brand name, said Terry Monroe, president and founder, American Business Brokers & Advisors, Fort Meyers Beach, Florida.
- 7-Eleven is No. 1 on CSP’s 2025 Top 40 Update to the 2024 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count. Alimentation Couche-Tard is No. 2. Watch for the full 2025 Top 202 ranking in the June issue of CSP magazine and in CSP Daily News.
With an estimated 152,000 c-stores in the United States, no nationally branded convenience chain exists, he said. “That’s unlike McDonalds, Burger King, Holiday Inn and other nationally known businesses in all 50 states,” Monroe said. “The only convenience store chain that comes close is 7-Eleven, but even they are not national.”
Why is being national a big deal? Monroe said brand equity increases exponentially.
“All of a sudden, they can begin marketing on a national basis. Think of TV, video, streaming shows, internet and social marketing,” he said. “Think of an app that can be used everywhere like McDonalds and other national brands. Think of reduced costs of products and the ability to purchase on a national basis.”
Currently, 7-Eleven is in 39 states, while Circle K is in 48 states. Nebraska is the only state that has neither brand. So, while Circle K is already close to being a national chain by counting states, 7-Eleven has about 75% more locations, making the notion of stretching the marketing dollar a solid point.
Still, while a laudable goal, not all c-stores are building the brand name Monroe speaks of. Some companies acquire stores with multiple brands and have no intention of creating a single logo. “If someone didn’t tell you the store was owned by [one of these acquirers], you wouldn’t know,” he said.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.