History of Convenience store in Timeline

A convenience store is a compact retail establishment that offers a variety of everyday necessities in one location. These items typically include convenience foods, groceries, drinks, tobacco products, lottery tickets, non-prescription medications, personal hygiene products, and reading materials like newspapers and magazines. Convenience stores aim to provide quick and easy access to frequently needed items, catering to immediate needs and impulse purchases.

1900: Co-operative shops in the UK

By 1900, the number of co-operative shops in the UK had reached 1,439.

1927: First chain convenience store opens in Dallas, Texas

In 1927, the Southland Ice Company, which eventually became 7-Eleven, opened the first chain convenience store in the United States in Dallas, Texas.

1939: J.J. Lawson starts a store at his dairy plant

In 1939, J.J. Lawson, a dairy owner, started a store at his dairy plant near Akron, Ohio, to sell his milk.

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1950: Shops Act 1950

Under the Shops Act 1950, Sunday trading was illegal for most traders in the UK, with exceptions only allowed for small shops selling perishable items such as milk, bread, butter, fresh meat and vegetables, and most shops that were not off-licences (i.e. selling alcohol) had to close at 20:00.

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1951: Circle K founded

In 1951, Circle K, another large company-owned convenience store chain, was founded.

1963: First 24-hour store opened in Las Vegas

In 1963, the first 24-hour convenience store opened in Las Vegas.

1966: US convenience store industry recorded $1 billion in sales

In 1966, the US convenience store industry recorded $1 billion in sales for the first time.

1969: Only 2,500 stores had self-serve at the pump

By 1969, only 2,500 convenience stores in the US had self-service gasoline pumps.

1974: Number of convenience stores in Japan

In 1974, Japan had 1,000 convenience stores.

1976: First convenience store in Mexico

In 1976, the first convenience store in Mexico, Super 7 (now a 7-Eleven), was opened in Monterrey, Nuevo León.

1982: 7-Eleven Opens in Singapore

In 1982, 7-Eleven began its presence in Singapore when it opened its first shop by Jardines under a franchise agreement with Southland Corporation of the United States.

1982: Lotte opens first convenience store in Seoul

In 1982, Lotte opened a convenience store in Seoul, marking the beginning of convenience stores in the Republic of Korea.

1983: Introduction of Myshop and One Plus in Singapore

In 1983, other convenience shops such as Myshop, belonging to a Japanese company, and One Plus, belonging to Emporium Holdings, appeared in Singapore.

1984: 7-Eleven opens first store in the Philippines

In 1984, the first 7-Eleven store in the Philippines opened in Quezon City. It is run by the Philippine Seven Corporation (PSC).

1984: 7-Eleven Expansion and Challenges for Other Chains in Singapore

In 1984, the number of 7-Eleven outlets continued to increase in Singapore, while other chains like One Plus faced difficulties expanding and Myshop sold out due to a lack of demand.

1985: 7-Eleven faces difficulty in Singapore

In 1985, 7-Eleven in Singapore had difficulty finding favorable locations and failed to meet its one-shop-a-month target.

1986: New HDB tendering system improves 7-Eleven's situation in Singapore

In 1986, a new Housing & Development Board (HDB) tendering system in Singapore allowed 7-Eleven to secure shops without bidding too high a price.

1988: Growth of convenience stores after the 1988 Summer Olympics

In 1988, after the Summer Olympics in Seoul, convenience stores saw growth in South Korea with the first 7-Eleven opening.

1989: Dairy Farm International Holdings acquires 7-Eleven chain

In 1989, Dairy Farm International Holdings acquired the 7-Eleven chain from Jardines in Singapore.

1989: Legislation in New Zealand prohibiting alcohol sales by dairies

In 1989, legislation in New Zealand prohibited the sales of alcohol by dairies, which blurred the distinction between dairies, superettes, and groceries.

1990: Rise in shop thefts in 7-Eleven

In 1990, there was a rise in the number of shop thefts in 7-Eleven. The shoplifters were usually teenagers who stole small items such as chocolates, cigarettes and beer. Security measures were stepped up, which successfully lowered the crime rate by 60%.

1991: Seven & I Holdings Co. acquired 7-Eleven (US)

In 1991, Seven & I Holdings Co., the parent company of 7-Eleven Japan, acquired 7-Eleven (US) from Southland Corporation.

1994: Sunday Trading Act 1994

The Sunday Trading Act 1994 in the UK allowed large-format shops to open on Sunday for not more than six hours.

1996: Number of convenience stores in Japan increases

In 1996, Japan had 47,000 convenience stores, increasing by 1,500 annually.

1999: Establishment of Cheers in Singapore

In 1999, Cheers was established in Singapore by local corporation NTUC FairPrice, adopting 7-Eleven's 24/7 model and taking similar security measures.

2004: Number of 7-Eleven and Cheers outlets in Singapore

In 2004, figures from the Singapore Department of Statistics showed there were 338 7-Eleven shops and 91 Cheers outlets.

2005: Singaporeans' Late-Night Habits

A 2005 economic review by PwC reported that 54% of Singaporeans stayed up past midnight, contributing to the popularity of 24-hour convenience shops.

2007: Sheetz tried to find a loophole in Pennsylvania to sell alcohol

In 2007, Altoona, Pennsylvania–based Sheetz tried to find a loophole by classifying part of one of their prototype stores in Altoona as a restaurant to permit alcohol sales, but state courts promptly overruled this decision.

2009: Am/Pm Japan acquired by Family Mart

In 2009, Am/Pm Japan was acquired by Family Mart.

2009: FreshStop Established in South Africa

In 2009, FreshStop, SA's oldest and largest convenience store chain, opened in South Africa.

2011: Gas stations with convenience stores generated $326 billion in revenue

In 2011, approximately 47,195 gas stations with convenience stores generated $326 billion in revenue in the US.

2011: Convenience store sales reach record levels

In 2011, in-store convenience store sales grew 2.4%, reaching a record $195.0 billion. Total convenience store sales were $681.9 billion, or one out of every 22 dollars of the U.S. gross domestic product.

2015: Coco Store acquired by Family Mart

In 2015, Coco Store was acquired by Family Mart.

2015: Consumers' co-operatives market share in the UK

In 2015, consumers' co-operatives accounted for approximately 6% of the UK grocery market.

2016: Circle K Sunkus acquired by Family Mart

In 2016, Circle K Sunkus was acquired by Family Mart.

2017: Australian convenience channel merchandise sales valued at $8.4 billion

In 2017, the Australian convenience channel merchandise sales were valued at $8.4 billion, excluding petrol sales, according to the AACS State of the Industry Report.

2018: Australian Convenience Store Industry

In mid-2018, the Australian convenience store industry comprised over 6,000 stores and employed well over 40,000 people. The majority of stores are small businesses, either independently owned or operated under franchise or licence agreement.

July 2020: FamilyMart milestone in Malaysia

As of July 2020, FamilyMart opened its 200th store in Malaysia.

July 2021: Convenience Stores in Japan

According to data from July 2021, there were 55,931 convenience stores in Japan, with 7-Eleven leading with 12,467 stores, followed by Lawson with 9,562, and FamilyMart with 7,604.

2021: Increase in convenience stores in Seoul

As of 2021, the number of convenience stores in Seoul has increased by about four times compared to 15 years ago.

2022: Possible government acquisition of Żabka in Poland

In 2022, Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice party in Poland, mentioned that the Polish ruling government might buy the Żabka convenience store from CVC Capital Partners.

2023: Convenience stores in South Korea

As of the end of 2023, there are about 55,000 convenience stores in South Korea.

2023: Convenience Store Chains in Indonesia

In 2023, Indomaret and Alfamart are the two major national convenience store chains in Indonesia, with around 22,000 and 18,000 stores, respectively. Foreign chains like Family Mart, Circle K, and Lawson operate primarily in big cities.

2023: Growth of the Greek Convenience Retail Sector

In 2023, the Greek convenience retail sector experienced substantial growth, with the small-format retail sector reaching an estimated €5.15 billion turnover.