Brinker International Inc., a casual dining restaurant company, has elected Joe DePinto, president and CEO of 7-Eleven Inc., to its board of directors. In his current role, DePinto leads 7-Eleven Inc., which operates, franchises and licenses more than 38,400 stores worldwide of which some 8,200 are in North America. Previously, DePinto served in other executive…

There’s little doubt that bakeries are big. Bakeries, pastry shops and bagel sellers are growing at a rate of 5%, according to AnythingResearch.com. When launching a bakery program, convenience store retailers are urged to start with an in-depth market study that profiles the target customer base, current sales in the market area for the product…

As the U.S. economic recession continues, it’s no secret that customers are altering their shopping habits to save a few dollars wherever they can. The silver lining for convenience store retailers could be the resulting affinity credit-crunched customers have developed for the prepaid segment. In a credit weary and increasingly online world, prepaid is helping…

New products and core beverages will always drive cold vault sales. So when is the right time—and how often does that right time come—for category managers to reset them? “We do cold vault resets twice a year, which means we’re making fairly minor adjustments all the time,” said Richard Ginther, category manager for Kum &…

After success with its World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (WWE) promotion last year, 7-Eleven Inc. is climbing back in the ring this summer as a sponsor of SummerSlam), WWE’s biggest pay-per-view event of the summer. The convenience retailer has beefed up this year’s promotion, running now through Aug. 31, with double the variety of cups and…

On Friday, July 16,  7-Eleven Inc. is launching its third “Coffee Cup With A Cause” campaign, this time offering a cup designed by WWE Superstar John Cena. Cena fans can make their way into any of the participating 7-Eleven stores across the U.S. to purchase the signature cup being sold July 16-Aug. 30, or while…

7-Eleven Inc. has closed on an agreement to purchase 14 gasoline locations in Virginia from Quarles Petroleum Inc. of Fredericksburg, Va.  The stores will be re-branded as 7-Eleven operations, and these sites will continue to sell Shell gasoline. Financial details of the transaction will not be disclosed. The locations are part of a 20-store divestiture…

7-Eleven Inc. is preparing for 7-Eleven Day on July 11-the day when the world’s first convenience chain celebrates its birthday. The year 2010 marks 83 years since the company was founded in Dallas. Participating 7-Eleven stores across America and Canada will serve five million free Slurpee frozen carbonated beverages in special birthday cups on Sunday…

Twelve from a field of 906 home-grown rock and popular bands have been named the most deserving performers and will compete in this year’s 7-Eleven and Slurpee Battle of the Bands (BOTB) contest that kicks off July 11 (7-Eleven stores’ recognized birthday). Starting this Sunday, the musical groups will begin showcasing their talents and competing…

Fredericksburg-based Quarles Petroleum’s food and convenience stores recently announced the sale of 13 stores to 7-Eleven. Six other locations, including the Opal truck stop on U.S. 29, were also recently sold to unidentified independent dealers, the Culpeper, Va., Star Exponent reported. “Quarles has decided to transition the operation of our Food Store 
locations to new…