7-Eleven, Inc.

170px
Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Retail (convenience stores)
Founded	1927 (1927)
Headquarters	Dallas, Texas, United States
Number of locations	39,000+
Key people	Joseph DePinto, President/CEO
Products	Slurpee beverage Big Gulp beverage Cup Other products include: coffee, sandwiches, prepared foods, gasoline, dairy products, various beverages
Revenue	$16.681 billion (Estimated) US$ (2009)[1]
Employees	45,000 (2010 NA)
Parent	Seven & I Holdings Co. Ltd.
Website	7-eleven.com 7andi.com sej.co.jp

7-Eleven is part of an international chain of convenience stores, operating under Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd, which in turn is owned by Seven & I Holdings Co. of Japan.^[2]

7-Eleven, primarily operating as a franchise, is the world's largest operator, franchisor and licensor of convenience stores, with more than 46,000 outlets,^[3] surpassing the previous record-holder McDonald's Corporation in 2007 by approximately 1,000 retail stores.^[4] The American subsidiary of the Japanese firm has its headquarters in the One Arts Plaza building in downtown Dallas, Texas.^[5] Its stores are located in 16 countries, with its largest markets being Japan, the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand.^[6]

History[link]

One Arts Plaza, which houses the U.S. headquarters of 7-Eleven

The company has its origins in 1927 in Dallas, Texas, when an employee of Southland Ice Company, Joe C. Thompson, started selling milk, eggs and bread from an ice house.^[7][8] The original location was an improvised storefront at Southland Ice Company, an ice-manufacturing plant owned by John Jefferson Green. Although small grocery stores and general merchandisers were present in the immediate area, Thompson, the manager of the ice plant, discovered selling convenience items, such as bread and milk, was popular due to the ice's ability to preserve the items. This significantly cut back on the need to travel long distances to the grocery stores for basic items. Thompson eventually bought the Southland Ice Company and turned it into Southland Corporation, which oversaw several locations which opened in the Dallas area. Initially, these stores were open from 7 am to 11 pm, hours unprecedented in their length, hence the name. The company began to use the 7-Eleven name in 1946. By 1952, 7-Eleven opened its 100th store. It was incorporated as Southland Corporation in 1961.^[9]

In 1962, 7-Eleven first experimented with a 24-hour schedule in Austin, Texas.^[10] By 1963, 24-hour stores were established in Las Vegas, Fort Worth, and Dallas.^[11]

In the 1980s, the company encountered financial difficulty, selling off its ice division, and was rescued from bankruptcy by Ito-Yokado, its largest franchisee. In 1987, John Philp Thompson, the CEO of 7-Eleven, completed a $5.2 billion management buyout of the company his father had founded.^[12] The buyout suffered from the 1987 stock market crash and after failing initially to raise high yield debt financing, the company was required to offer a portion of the company's stock as an inducement to invest in the company's bonds.^[13][14]

The Japanese company gained a controlling share of 7-Eleven in 1991,^[9] during the Japanese asset bubble of the early 1990s. Ito-Yokado formed Seven & I Holdings Co. and 7-Eleven became its subsidiary in 2005. In 2007, Seven & I Holdings announced it would be expanding their American operations, with an additional 1,000 7-Eleven stores in the United States.

Products and services[link]

Among 7-Eleven's offerings are private label products, including Slurpee, a partially frozen soft drink introduced in 1967,^[15] and the Big Gulp introduced in 1980^[15] that packaged soft drinks in large cups ranging in size from 20 to 64 U.S. fluid ounces (0.59 to 1.9 liters).

Other products[link]

In addition to Slurpee and the Big Gulp, 7-Eleven would come to own or operate several brands of food and concepts, including Movie Quik, an in-store video-rental service; Citgo, the gas brand sold at many locations up until 2006; as well as Chief Auto Parts, which had locations adjacent to or near several 7-Eleven locations. They bought White Hen Inc. on August 10, 2006, mostly in or around the Chicago area, and plan to convert all of the remaining White Hens to 7-Eleven stores.

Since 2005, the company has offered 7-Eleven Speak Out Wireless, a prepaid phone service where a cellphone can be purchased directly from a 7-Eleven store in the United States or Canada and activated on the spot.

The 7-Eleven convenience store announced on November 3, 2009 that it was releasing two low-priced proprietary wines in the United States and Japan (under the "Yosemite Road" brand).^[16]

Around the world[link]

Asia-Pacific[link]

Australia[link]

The first 7-Eleven in Australia opened on August 24, 1977 in the Melbourne suburb of Oakleigh. There are currently 565 stores in the states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland; the majority of stores are in metropolitan areas, particularly in CBD areas. Stores in suburban areas often operate as petrol stations. Stores are owned and operated as franchises, with a central administration.

7-Eleven stores sell gift cards including three types of prepaid VISA cards. There are daily newspapers, drinks, confectionery, and snack foods. They sell pre-prepared food such as sandwiches, wraps, pies, sausage rolls under their proprietary brand 'munch' delivered fresh into stores daily.

7-Eleven stores have partnered with BankWest and have BankWest ATMs in all of their stores.^[17]

Every year on 7 November, one small cup of free Slurpee is given to each customer in honor to Seven Eleven Day. (November is the 11th month which makes it 7/11)^[18]

In March 2010, the company ran a promotion where every customer purchasing fuel received a free small Slurpee.

7-Eleven has acquired 295 Mobil service stations in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria that were originally planned for sale to Caltex. Twenty-nine sites in South Australia were subsequently on sold to Peregrine Corporation, to be badged as On the Run convenience stores.^[19][20]

China[link]

7-Eleven has been operating in the People's Republic of China in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, since 2008. Some stores were open since 1996. It offers little or no brand name items like Slurpee. However, they offer a wide array of warm food, including traditional items like the steamed, filled bun. Also sold are some beverages, alcohol, candy, periodicals, and other convenience items. As of April, 2009, there were 591 7-Eleven locations in mainland China.^{[citation needed]} Although Beijing locations were originally planned to be open "from 7:00 am until 11:00 pm, to suit the lifestyle of Beijingers",^[21] the majority are open 24 hours every day.

Hong Kong[link]

7-Eleven, nicknamed "Little 7" (Chat Jai) by the locals, has operated in Hong Kong since 1981 under the ownership of Dairy Farm. With most locations being in urbanized areas, approximately 40 percent are franchised stores. In September 2004, Dairy Farm acquired Daily Stop, a convenience store chain located mainly in the territory's MTR stations, and converted them to 7-Eleven stores. As of 2009, it has 950 stores and made it a second place for the highest density of 7-Eleven stores after Macau, with 1 shop per each 1.16 km².

Japan[link]

Japan's first 7-Eleven Store in Kōtō, Tokyo, opened in May 1974

Japan has more 7-Eleven locations than anywhere else in the world, where they often bear the title of its holding company "Seven & I Holdings". Of the 39,153 stores around the globe, 12,925 of them are located in Japan with 1,713 in Tokyo alone.

The feel and look of the store is somewhat different from that of the U.S. 7-Elevens. In Japan they offer a wider selection of products and services. Japanese 7-Elevens offer not only food, drinks, and magazines, but also video games and consoles, music CDs, DVDs, digital cardreaders as well as seasonal items like Christmas cakes, Valentine's Day chocolates, and fireworks. Slurpees and Big Gulp super size soft drinks were introduced in the early 1980s but discontinued some years later.

On September 1, 2005, Seven & I Holdings Co., Ltd., a new holding company, became the parent company of 7-Eleven, Ito Yokado, and Denny's Japan.

Macau[link]

7-Eleven entered the Macau market in 2005 under the ownership of Dairy Farm, the same conglomeration group operating Hong Kong's 7-Eleven. With only 29.5km², Macau has 45 stores, making it a single market that has the highest density of 7-Eleven stores, with one store for each 0.65km².

Malaysia[link]

Malaysian 7-Elevens are owned by 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. which now operates 1,359 stores nationwide (as of January 2011). 7-Eleven in Malaysia was incorporated on June 4, 1984 by the Berjaya Group Berhad. The first 7-Eleven store in Malaysia was opened in October 1984, in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. In October 2008, 7-Eleven achieved a milestone opening of its 1,000th store in Bandar Sunway, Selangor. It is today the market leader in convenience store chain landscape in Malaysia.^{[citation needed]}

Philippines[link]

In the Philippines, 7-Eleven is run by the Philippine Seven Corporation (PSC). Its first store opened in 1984. In 2000, President Chain Store Corporation (PCSC) of Taiwan, also a licensee of 7-Eleven, bought the majority shares of PSC and thus formed a strategic alliance for the convenience store industry within the area.

Indonesia[link]

In April 2009, 7-Eleven announced plans to expand its business in Indonesia through a Master Franchise agreement with Modern Putra Indonesia (a subsidiary of Modern Group, FujiFilm distributor in Indonesia) of Jakarta. Modern Putra Indonesia's initial plans are to focus on opening stores in Jakarta, targeting densely populated commercial and office areas, to offer working Indonesians a convenient place to shop for lunch, snacks and emergency items. Other major cities, such as Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya, offer future expansion opportunities.^[22]

Indonesian government stated in May 2010 that they will monitor 7-Eleven expansion since it is licensed as convenience store not as mini markets. Indonesian law limits mini market ownership to local companies.^[23]

Singapore[link]

A 7-Eleven outlet in Singapore

In Singapore, 7-Eleven forms the largest chain of convenience stores island-wide. There are at present 545 7-Eleven stores scattered throughout the country. Stores in Singapore are operated by the Dairy Farm International Holdings, franchised under a licensing agreement with 7-Eleven Incorporated, headquartered in the United States.

The first 7-Eleven stores were operated in 1983 with a franchise license under the Jardine Matheson Group. The license was then acquired by Cold Storage Singapore, a subsidiary of the Dairy Farm Group, in 1989. At present, 7-Eleven plans to expand its base to include 300 stores, within the next few years. In 2006, 7-Eleven (Singapore) signed an agreement with Shell Singapore to operate its "Shell Select" convenience stores in all its petrol stations island-wide.^[24] In September 2007, the change-over of Shell Select stores to 7-Eleven were fully completed.^[25]

7-Eleven stores in Singapore operate around the clock, except for stores in Biopolis, hospitals, MRT Stations, some shopping centres, Raffles Institution (Junior College), ITE College West, Singapore Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic and Nanyang Technological University, which have shorter operating hours.

South Korea[link]

7-Eleven has a presence in the South Korean convenience store market where it competes with Mini Stop, GS25 (formerly LG25), Family Mart and independent competitors. There are 2,282 7-Eleven stores in Korea, with only the United States, Japan, Thailand and Taiwan hosting more stores. Branded products such as Slurpee or Big Gulp are no longer carried in South Korean stores.

Taiwan[link]

Two 7-Eleven stores at the same intersection

In Taiwan, the 7-Eleven is the most popular convenience store, and is owned by the Uni-President chain store under Uni-President Enterprises Corporation. The first store opened in 1980 and since then has grown to cover 4,744 stores as of March 25, 2010.^[26] Taiwan has the world's fourth largest collection of 7-Eleven convenience stores after Japan, U.S., and Thailand. With 6,200 potential shoppers per store, Taiwan also has the smallest number of potential shoppers per 7-Eleven convenience store (compared to Japan's 14,946 potential customers for each 7-Eleven and the United States' 48,359 customers for each store). With such a high density of stores, it is not an unusual scene in Taiwan for two 7-Eleven stores to stand face to face across an intersection.

Thailand[link]

The franchise in Thailand is the CP ALL Public Company Limited, which in turn grants franchises to operators. There are about 6,000 7-Elevens in Thailand, half of which are in Bangkok, making Thailand have the 3rd largest number of stores after the US and Japan.^[26] CP All, the operator of 7-Eleven convenience stores in Thailand, plans to increase their number to more than 7,000 stores by 2013. CP All operated 6,300 stores in 2011 and will aim at 6,800 in 2012. 7-Eleven in Japan operates 13,000 stores, the most in the world, followed by 6,500 in the US and CP All's 6,300 in Thailand. Mr Piyawat said the company plans spending of 5 billion baht to expand business this year. Of the total, 2 billion will be used to open 500 new outlets, one billion to renovate existing stores and the rest to develop a new distribution centre in the East.^[27]

North America[link]

Canada[link]

A 7-Eleven Store with gas station in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada

In Canada, a limited number of 7-Eleven locations have filling stations with gasoline distributed by Shell Canada, Petro-Canada, or Esso. In November 2005, 7-Eleven started offering a wireless service called Speak Out Wireless. They also usually have Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ATMs. The first 7-Eleven store to open was in Calgary on June 29, 1969. There were 457 7-Eleven stores as of January 1, 2010.^[28] Winnipeg has the world's largest number of slurpee consumers, with an estimated 1,500,000 slurpees sold since the first 7-Eleven opened on March 21, 1970. All 7-Eleven locations in Canada are currently corporately operated.^[29]

7-Eleven abandoned the Ottawa market as of December 2009 selling all its six outlets there to regional convenience chain Quickie. Following concerns over the fate of 7-Eleven's popular discount mobile phone plan SpeakOut, Quickie offered to assume existing SpeakOut customers and phones into its Good2Go cellphone program.^[30][31]

Mexico[link]

In Mexico, 7-Eleven was called Super 7. In 1995, the name changed to 7-Eleven. When stores are located within classic buildings (such as in Historic Center) or important buildings, the logo at the entrance shows no colors; instead, letters are golden or silver. Main competitors in Mexico are OXXO (Femsa), Super City (Soriana) and other local competitors.

--72.231.216.195 (talk) 05:10, 1 June 2012 (UTC)====United States====

7-Eleven currently has more than 8,200 owned, operated and franchised stores in the United States-almost all as franchises.^[32]

Once ubiquitous, 7-Eleven stores are no longer found in some Midwestern and Southeastern states. In May 1998, it was announced that 113 7-Eleven stores would be sold and converted into Kum & Go stores. In this same time frame, 7-Eleven exited the Minnesota market and sold all its Minnesota stores to SuperAmerica. This led to situations, especially in larger cities like Minneapolis and Saint Paul, where multiple SuperAmerica locations could be found on the same intersection. In states like Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, other convenience stores like Holiday Station Stores, SuperAmerica, QuikTrip, Kwik Trip, Casey's, and Speedway occupy the same market.

7-Eleven in Oklahoma City advertising the Icy Drink. Outlets in Oklahoma do not sell the item under the traditional name Slurpee.

The only independently owned 7-Eleven stores are located in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma metropolitan area. About 125 stores are owned by the family of William C. Brown (currently run by son Jim Brown) under special arrangement with the company since 1953. William C. Brown's father was a business associate and family friend of John Thompson. "Bill" had recently graduated from the University of Notre Dame and struck out on a quest to find an area "ripe" for the concept. During his travels he met the Tulsa based QuikTrip chain owner who suggested OKC to Brown. Narrowing down the choices he decided upon Oklahoma and opened store No.1 at NW 23rd & N. Portland Avenue in OKC.^{[citation needed]} At their inception the Thompson family were part owners of the OKC stores but never the Corporation. Brown would work a shift at the original store and afterwards would scout new locations to build. The "Oh Thank Heaven for 7-Eleven" phrase was coined by the Stanford Agency the in-house ad agency for 7-Eleven (1954–1981) in 1969. These stores carry a slightly different product selection than other 7-Eleven stores in the U.S. as they do not serve hot dogs or nachos. Instead, they have their own bakeries, called Seventh Heaven.^[33] Also, due to this agreement, they carry a non-7-Eleven branded product in lieu of the Slurpee, the Icy Drink, which is not to be confused with the ICEE.^[34] The one side effect to this arrangement is that national advertising campaigns and promotions (e.g. movie marketing tie-ins) cannot be used.

In the Pennsylvania market -- a market noted for innovation within the convenience store industry -- 7-Eleven competes with Turkey Hill from Lancaster, Wawa from the Philadelphia area, and Sheetz from Altoona. 7-Eleven has no presence in the Altoona–State College–Johnstown area because of Sheetz,^[35] but is predominant in the Pittsburgh region where Sheetz also dominates, as well as South Central Pennsylvania around the state capital of Harrisburg. 7-Eleven is also absent in several cities in Texas (Houston, Galveston, Beaumont, San Antonio - 7-Elevens in these cities after 1988 were sold to National Convenience Stores, which owns the Stop & Go franchise ^[36], later acquired by Diamond Shamrock in November 1995 ^[37], now part of Valero since 2006), even though the United States headquarters is based there.^[38] 7-Elevens are prevalent in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Temple, Killeen, Fort Hood, and Austin, TX (primarily on the Interstate 35 corridor), in West Texas (Midland, Lubbock, El Paso - the West Texas locations west of Interstate 35 are co-branded with Fina gas stations, part of Alon USA's retail business interests which includes Southwest Convenience Stores; 7-Elevens with Fina gas stations are licensed franchises), and two individual franchises in Smithville and San Marcos, TX. The current Texas locations are located north of Interstate 10 and west of the Interstate 35 corridor including the Smithville, TX location east of Bastrop, TX. In North Carolina, 7-Elevens were only seen in the northeastern part of the state, as part of the Hampton Roads market, between 1988 and 2012. In the rest of the state, there are several equivalents. 7-Eleven has little to no presence in the Albany, New York market due to the prominence there of Stewart's Shops, a local chain.

In 1987, Southland acquired High's Dairy Stores of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., many of which were converted to 7-Elevens.

In March 2007, it was announced that 7-Eleven would sell its corporately owned stores in northern Texas and in Florida to franchisees;^[39] the chain has been franchising stores since 1964. The sale will make 7-Eleven virtually a franchise-only operation in six years.

7-Eleven is moving toward franchising most of its remaining corporate locations inside the United States. The 7-Eleven franchise system splits the gross profits 50/50 or close to it, between the company and the individual franchisee. The initial 7-Eleven franchise term is 15 years. The franchise fee and other upfront fees collected by 7-Eleven from a newly approved franchisee, in addition to ongoing 50:50 sharing of profits, is not transferable to another incoming franchisee in the same store, for the unexpired portion, if any, of the current 15 year contract. For example if one pays full franchise fee for 15 years and has to leave the store after one year due to any reason, they stand to lose the franchise fee for the remaining 14 years of their term.

Supermarket News ranked 7-Eleven's North American operations No. 11 in the 2007 "Top 75 North American Food Retailers" based on 2006 fiscal year estimated sales of $15.0 billion.^[40] Based on 2005 revenue, 7-Eleven is the twenty-fourth largest retailer in the United States.^[41]

Sign on a 7-Eleven filling station pump

In the United States, many 7-Eleven locations used to have filling stations with gasoline distributed by Citgo, which in 1983 was purchased by Southland Corporation (and 50% of Citgo was subsequently sold in 1986 to Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. and the remaining 50% in 1990). Although Citgo was the predominant partner of 7-Eleven, other oil companies are also co-branded with 7-Eleven, including Fina, Exxon, Gulf, Marathon, BP, Sunoco, and Pennzoil. Alon USA is the largest 7-Eleven licensee in North America.

On September 27, 2006, 7-Eleven announced its 20-year contract with Citgo was coming to an end and would not be renewed. 7-Eleven Spokeswoman Margaret Chabris said "Regardless of politics, we sympathize with many Americans' concern over derogatory comments about our country and its leadership recently made by Venezuela's president Hugo Chávez. Certainly Chávez's position and statements over the past year or so didn't tempt us to stay with Citgo." Later she said that "People are making it out to be more than it is."^[42] Citgo's Chief Executive Felix Rodriguez responded with a correction the following day, accusing 7-Eleven of exploiting the situation to score political points against Chavez, and pointing out that Citgo's decision to terminate the contract with 7-Eleven had been made in July, for practical and economic reasons: "[The reports are] a manipulation because ever since the month of July have we announced that we did not intend to renew a contract with 7-Eleven, which was 20 years old and that was part of a bad business deal for Venezuela."^[43] A statement found on Citgo's homepage stated, "The 7-Eleven contract did not fit within CITGO's strategy to balance sales with refinery production after the sale of its interest in a Houston area refinery."

At locations that have already phased out Citgo fuel, 7-Eleven is no longer accepting Citgo's credit cards. 7-Eleven stores that have removed the Citgo sign usually replace it with an "Oh Thank Heaven!" or "Fast and Fresh" sign on the main sign display, and simply place the 7-Eleven logo on the canopy over the pumps.

In more recent years, however, many gas station locations being built have a 7-Eleven, including the acquisition of BP's "Shop" brand on several locations in the New York metropolitan area. 7-Eleven major competitor is Royal Farms. 7-Eleven signed an agreement with ExxonMobil's retail interests in December 2010 by acquiring 183 sites in Florida^[44] and in August 2011 by acquiring 51 of their On The Run stores to the existing 239 locations in the DFW Metroplex.^[45] 7-Eleven expanded their business interests with a partnership with DFW-based Cinemark Theatres after July 2011 where the Slurpee beverage is sold at Cinemark locations in Dallas, Portland, OR, and Houston, TX (which is deemed as a re-entry into the Houston, TX metro area since 1988). In past years, 7-Eleven had their marketing tie-in with blockbuster summer film releases on their Big Gulp and Slurpee cups and partnering with Cinemark officially marks the first time that a 7-Eleven branded product is sold outside its parent franchise since this was demonstrated at a Dallas, TX sports arena.^[46] Citibank ATMs can be found in locations across the United States.

On April 27, 2011 7-Eleven signed an agreement to purchase Wilson Farms, a Buffalo, New York-based convenience store chain with 188 outlets in New York state. The addition of Wilson Farms significantly increased 7-Eleven’s presence in the western New York area.

In 2012, 7-Eleven entered into an agreement with Sam's Mart convenience stores to purchase 55 stores in the Charlotte, North Carolina market and convert them to the 7-Eleven brand. This marked 7-Eleven's re-entry into the Charlotte market after a 24 year absence.

Scandinavia[link]

7-Eleven in Bergen, Norway

The owner of the master franchise for 7-Eleven in Scandinavia is Reitan Servicehandel, a part of the Norwegian retail group Reitan Group. All stores are franchised, and 7-Eleven often tries to place the stores on corners in city centers. After Reitangruppen bought the filling station chain HydroTexaco (now YX Energy) in Norway and Denmark in 2006 it has announced that several of the stores at the filling stations will be rebranded 7-Eleven and the petrol will be supplied by Shell, others will remain under the YX-concept.

Denmark[link]

7-Eleven in Strøget, Copenhagen

The first Danish 7-Eleven was opened in Østerbro on September 14, 1993. As of October, 2011, there are more than 190 stores, mostly in Copenhagen, Århus, Aalborg and Odense, including 8 stores at Copenhagen Central Station. In Denmark 7-Eleven has an agreement with Shell, with a nationwide network of Shell/7-Eleven service stations, and an agreement with DSB to have 7-Eleven at most S-tog-stations.

Norway[link]

In Norway, the first 7-Eleven was opened at Grünerløkka in Oslo on September 13, 1986. As of October 1, 2010, there are 110 7-Eleven stores in Norway, more than half of these are in Oslo. Norway has the northernmost 7-Eleven in the world, situated in Tromsø. On a per-capita basis, Norway has one 7–Eleven store for every 47,000 Norwegians, compared to Canada, which has one for every 74,000 Canadians.

Sweden[link]

The first European location of 7-Eleven was Swedish; the first 7-Eleven in Sweden was opened on Tomtebogatan in Stockholm in 1980. Reitan Servicehandel Sverige has the license in Sweden. In the mid-1990s, 7-Eleven in Sweden received adverse publicity, resulting in many stores being sold and closed down. For a time there were only 7-Elevens in Stockholm and Gothenburg. 7-Eleven returned to the south of Sweden in 2001 when a convenience store opened in Lund. As of the end of 2008, there are 77 7-Elevens in Sweden: most of them in Stockholm, 16 in Gothenburg, 8 in southern Sweden (including two in Lund, two in Helsingborg, three in Malmö and one located at Malmö-Sturup Airport). After an agreement with Shell on August 27, 2007, 112 Shell Select-outlets will be remade into 7-Eleven as of April 2009.

Rankings[link]

7-Eleven has been consistently ranked in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500,^[47] most recently being selected as the No.1 overall franchise. In addition, they were also ranked No.38 in Fastest-Growing Franchises^[48] and No.2 in Low Cost Franchises.^[49] In 2008, 7-Eleven was named the number one franchise by Entrepreneur, beating out Subway, which had held the number one spot for 15 years.^[50]

The name[link]

The company's first convenience outlets were known as Tote'm stores since customers "toted" away their purchases, and some even sported genuine Alaskan totem poles in front. In 1946, Tote'm became 7-Eleven to reflect the stores' new, extended hours—7 a.m. until 11 pm, seven days a week.^[51] The company's corporate name was changed from Southland Corporation to 7-Eleven, Inc. in 1999.

Parodies[link]

In a July 2007 promotional event, 11 U.S. 7-Elevens were temporarily transformed into Kwik-E-Marts, like this Seattle store.

• 7-Eleven is parodied in The Simpsons television series, as a convenience store called Kwik-E-Mart.^[52]
• 7-Eleven is also parodied in the Grand Theft Auto series of video games as a chain of convenience stores called 24/7
• 7-Eleven is parodied in Beavis and Butt-head as a convenience store called the Maxi Mart.
• 7-Eleven is parodied in the Mindless Self Indulgence song 'Seven Eleven':

"Girls from Seven-Eleven stay up all night. 24 hours a day! Girls from Seven-Eleven stay up all night. Seven whole days a week! Girls from seven-eleven stay up all night, and I could get a discount."

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 7-Eleven

• 7-Eleven global sites index
• 7-Eleven Official

Look up eleven in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Eleven can refer to:

• The year 11
• The year 11 BC
• 11 (number)
• The month of November

Television[link]

• Eleven, an Australian free to air digital television channel, part of Network Ten, jointly owned by Ten Network Holdings and CBS Studios International

Writing[link]

• Eleven (novel), a 2006 novel by British author David Llewellyn
• Eleven, a 1970 collection of short stories by Patricia Highsmith
• Eleven (Myracle novel), a teen novel by Lauren Myracle
• Eleven or Elven (Elven Quest Trilogy), a young adult fantasy by C M Lloyd

Music[link]

• Eleven (Martina McBride album), the 11th studio album by American singer Martina McBride
• Eleven (22-Pistepirkko album) or Ele∀en, a 1998 album by Finnish band 22-Pistepirkko
• Eleven (Sugarcult album), a 1999 album by American band Sugarcult
• Eleven (B'z album), a 2000 album by Japanese band B'z
• Eleven (Harry Connick, Jr. album)
• Eleven (band), an American hard rock band
• Eleven (Serbian band), Serbian alternative rock band
• Eleven: A Music Company, an Australian record label
• Up to eleven, an idiom originated in the excessive volume setting
• "The Eleven", a song by the Grateful Dead
• "Eleven", a song on the Primus album Sailing the Seas of Cheese that is in 11/8 time
• 11 (The Smithereens album), an album by The Smithereens
• 11 (Bryan Adams album), an album by Bryan Adams
• "Eleven", a song by ¡Forward, Russia!
• "Eleven", a character description in book 1 Child of the Elves by C M Lloyd

Other uses[link]

• EleVen, a clothing range designed by tennis player Venus Williams
• Municipal Okrug 11, name of Ostrov Dekabristov Municipal Okrug of Vasileostrovsky District of St. Petersburg, Russia, until 2011
• 7-Eleven a convenience store in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia
• MIT elEVEN
• Apollo 11, historic space mission which landed the first humans on the Moon
• A football team, so-called because of the number of players on the team
• Ocean's 11, a 1960 heist film, and its 2001 remake Ocean's Eleven

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Senkaku Islands

Disputed islands Other names: Japanese: 尖閣諸島 Chinese: 釣魚台列嶼 or 钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿 Pinnacle Islands
Location of the islands (inside red rectangle and inset).
Geography
Location	Pacific Ocean
Coordinates	25°47′53″N 124°03′21″E / 25.79806°N 124.05583°E / 25.79806; 124.05583
Total islands	5 + 3 rocks
Major islands	Uotsuri Jima / Diaoyu Dao Taisho Jima / Chiwei Yu Kuba Jima / Huangwei Yu Kita Kojima / Bei Xiaodao Minami Kojima / Nan Xiaodao
Area	7 square kilometres (1,700 acres)
Administered by
Japan
City	Ishigaki, Okinawa
Claimed by
Japan
City	Ishigaki, Okinawa
People's Republic of China
Township	Toucheng, Yilan County, Taiwan Province
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Township	Toucheng, Yilan County, Taiwan Province

The Senkaku Islands (尖閣諸島, Senkaku Shotō^?, variants: Senkaku-guntō^[1] and Senkaku-rettō^[2]), also known as the Diaoyu Islands or Diaoyutai Islands (simplified Chinese: 钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿; traditional Chinese: 釣魚台群島; pinyin: Diàoyútái Qúndǎo) or the Pinnacle Islands, are a group of uninhabited islands controlled by Japan in the East China Sea. They are located roughly due east of mainland China, northeast of Taiwan, west of Okinawa Island, and north of the southwestern end of the Ryukyu Islands.

Since the transfer of administration from United States to Japan in 1971, ownership of the islands by Japan has been disputed by the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan). The Chinese claim the discovery and control of the islands from the 14th century. Japan controlled the islands from 1895 until her surrender at the end of World War II. The United States administered them as part of the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands from 1945 until 1972, when the islands reverted to Japanese control under the Okinawa Reversion Treaty between the United States and Japan.^[3]

The islands are an issue in foreign relations between Japan and the PRC and between Japan and the ROC.^[4] Despite the complexity of relations between the PRC and ROC, both governments agree that the islands are part of Taiwan as part of Toucheng Township in Yilan County of their respective divisions. The Japanese government regards these islands as a part of Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture and does not acknowledge either China's claim to the islands. The Japanese government has not allowed Ishigaki to develop the islands.

Early historical context[link]

Records of these islands date back to as early as the 15th century. They were referred as Diaoyu in books such as Voyage with a Tail Wind (simplified Chinese: 顺风相送; traditional Chinese: 順風相送; pinyin: Shǜnfēng Xiāngsòng) (1403) ^[5] and Record of the Imperial Envoy's Visit to Ryūkyū (simplified Chinese: 使琉球录; traditional Chinese: 使琉球錄; pinyin: Shĭ Liúqiú Lù) (1534). Adopted by the Chinese Imperial Map of the Ming Dynasty, both the Chinese name for the island group (Diaoyu) and the Japanese name for the main island (Uotsuri) both literally mean "angling".^{[citation needed]}

The first published description of the islands in Europe was in a book imported by Isaac Titsingh in 1796. His small library of Japanese books included Sangoku Tsūran Zusetsu (三国通覧図説, An Illustrated Description of Three Countries^?) by Hayashi Shihei.^[6] This text, which was published in Japan in 1785, described the Ryūkyū Kingdom.^[7] In 1832, the Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland supported the posthumous abridged publication of Titsingh's French translation.^[8]

The first reference to the islands in a book published in English was Edward Belcher's 1848 account of the voyages of HMS Sammarang.^[9] Captain Belcher observed that "the names assigned in this region have been too hastily admitted."^[10] Belcher reported anchoring off Pinnacle Island in March 1845.^[11]

In 1870s and 1880s, the English name Pinnacle Islands was used by the British navy for the rocks adjacent to the largest island Uotsuri Jima/Diaoyu Dao (then called Hoa-pin-su); Kuba Jima/Huangwei Yu (then called Ti-a-usu); and Taishō Jima/Chiwei Yu.^[12] The name "Pinnacle Islands" is used by some as an English-language equivalent to "Senkaku" or "Diaoyu".^[13]

One islet of the group–Uotsuri Jima

In 1900, when Tsune Kuroiwa, a teacher at the Okinawa Prefecture Normal School, visited the islands, he adopted the name Senkaku Retto (simplified Chinese: 尖阁列岛; traditional Chinese: 尖閣列島; pinyin: Jiāngéliè Dăo), literally Pinnacle Islands, to refer the whole island group, based on the British name. The first official document recording the name Senkaku Retto was by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nihon Gaiko Monjo (日本外交文書, Documents on Japanese Foreign Relations) in the 1950s.^{[citation needed]} In Japanese, Sentō Shosho (尖頭諸嶼^?) and Senkaku Shosho (尖閣諸嶼^?) were translations used for these "Pinnacle Islands" by various Japanese sources. Subsequently, the entire island group came to be called Senkaku Rettō, which later evolved into Senkaku Shotō.^{[citation needed]}

The collective use of the name "Senkaku" to denote the entire group began with the advent of the controversy in the 1970s.^[14]

History under Japanese and US control[link]

Japanese workers at a bonito fisheries processing plant on Uotsurishima sometime around 1910^[15]

The Japanese central government formally annexed the islands on January 14, 1895. Around 1900, Japanese entrepreneur Koga Tatsushirō (古賀 辰四郎^?) constructed a bonito processing plant on the islands with 200 workers. The business failed in 1940 and the islands have remained deserted ever since.^[15]

In the 1970s, Koga Tatsushirō's descendents Zenji and Hanako Tatsushirō sold the islands to the Kurihara family of Saitama Prefecture. Hiroyuki Kurihara owns Uotsuri, Kita Kojima, and Minami Kojima. Hiroyuki's sister owns Kuba.^[16]

The islands were under US government occupation authority from 1945 until 1972.^[15] Since the islands reverted to Japanese government control in 1972, the mayor of Ishigaki has been given civic authority over the territory. The Japanese central government, however, has prohibited Ishigaki from surveying or developing the islands.^[15][17]

In 1971, the Taiwanese and Chinese governments officially began to declare ownership of the islands after the U.N. issued a report about possible gas and oil reserves in the Senkaku area. In 1979 an official delegation from the Japanese government composed of 50 academics, government officials from the Foreign and Transport ministries, officials from the now-defunct Okinawa Development Agency, and Hiroyuki Kurihara, visited the islands and camped on Uotsuri for about four weeks. The delegation surveyed the local ecosystem, finding moles and sheep, studied the local marine life, and examined whether the islands would support human habitation.^[18]

Since 2002, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications has paid the Kurihara family ¥25 million a year to rent Uotsuri, Minami Kojima and Kita Kojima. Japan's Ministry of Defense rents Kuba island for an undisclosed amount. Kuba is used by the U.S. military as a practice aircraft bombing range. Japan's central government completely owns Taisho island.^[19][20]

On December 17, 2010, Ishigaki declared January 14 as "Pioneering Day". China condemned Ishigaki's actions.^[21] In 2012, both the Tokyo Metropolitan and Japanese central governments announced plans to negotiate purchase of Uotsuri, Kita Kojima, and Minami Kojima from the Kurihara family.^[22]

Geography[link]

A cluster of islets–Uotsuri Jima (left), Kita Kojima and Minami Kojima (right)

The island group consists of five uninhabited islets and three barren rocks.

These minor features in the East China Sea are located approximately 120 nautical miles northeast of Taiwan, 200 nautical miles east of the Chinese mainland and 200 nautical miles southwest of the Japanese island of Okinawa.^[23]

In ascending order of distances, the island cluster is located:

• 140 kilometres (76 nmi; 87 mi) east of Pengjia Islet, ROC ^[24]
• 170 kilometres (92 nmi; 110 mi) north of Ishigaki Island, Japan
• 186 kilometres (100 nmi; 116 mi) northeast of Keelung, ROC
• 410 kilometres (220 nmi; 250 mi) west of Okinawa Island, Japan

The depth of the surrounding waters of the continental shelf is approximately 100–150 metres (328–492 ft) except for the Okinawa Trough on the south.^[33]

The existence of the back-arc basin complicates descriptive issues. According to Professor Ji Guoxing of the Asia-Pacific Department at Shanghai Institute for International Studies,

• China's interpretation of the geography is that

  "...the Okinawa Trough proves that the continental shelves of China and Japan are not connected, that the Trough serves as the boundary between them, and that the Trough should not be ignored ...."^[34]

• Japan's interpretation of the geography is that

  "...the trough is just an incidental depression in a continuous continental margin between the two countries ... [and] the trough should be ignored ...."^[34]

Flora and fauna[link]

Permission for collecting herbs on three of the islands was recorded in an Imperial Chinese edict of 1893.^[35]

Uotsuri Jima, the largest island, has a number of endemic species such as the Senkaku Mole (Mogera uchidai) and Okinawa-kuro-oo-ari ant. The Senkaku mole is an endangered species; and its existence is threatened by domestic goats which were introduced to the island in 1978.^[36]

Albatross are observed in the islands.^[37] Amongst all islands, Minami Kojima is one of the few breeding places of the rare Short-tailed Albatross (Phoebastria albatrus).

Dispute over island ownership[link]

Two of the disputed islets–Kita Kojima (left) and Minami Kojima (right)

The PRC and ROC claim that the islands have been a part of Chinese territory since at least 1534. They acknowledge that Japan took control of the islands in 1894–1895 during the first Sino-Japanese War, through the signature of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. They assert that the Potsdam Declaration (which Japan accepted as part of the San Francisco Peace Treaty) required that Japan relinquish control of all islands except for "the islands of Honshū, Hokkaidō, Kyūshū, Shikoku and such minor islands as we determine", and they state that this means control of the islands should pass to China.

Japan does not accept that there is any ownership dispute, asserting that the islands are an integral part of Japan.^[38] Japan has rejected claims that the islands were under China's control prior to 1895, and that these islands were contemplated by the Potsdam Declaration or affected by the San Francisco Peace Treaty.^[39]

The controversy has at least two dimensions: (a) territorial sovereignty, which is a legacy of history; and (b) relevant jurisdictional rights and interests in maritime boundaries, which is marked by differing interpretations of the law of the sea.^[40]

2010 collision incident[link]

On September 7, 2010, a Chinese fishing boat collided with patrol boats of the Japan Coast Guard near the islands. The trawler was taken by the Japan Coast Guard, and the captain and crew were held in custody in Japan pending possible charges.^[41][42] China strongly protested, and demanded an immediate release of the Chinese fishermen.^[43] The crew was released on September 13, 2010, while the captain was held until September 24, and none were charged. The incident disrupted official and non-official exchanges and activities between the two countries.

See also[link]

• Sino-Japanese relations
• China Federation for Defending the Diaoyu Islands
• Action Committee for Defending the Diaoyu Islands
• Kuril Islands
• Okinotorishima
• Spratly Islands
• Paracel Islands

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

Further reading[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Senkaku Islands

• Google maps, Senkaku Islands
• "Q&A China Japan island row," BBC News Asia-Pacific. September 24, 2010.
• Globalsecurity.org — "Senkaku/Diaoyutai Islands"; References, Links
• Inventory of Conflict and Environment (ICE), Diaoyu Islands Dispute
• Waseda University — Hayashi Shihei. (1785). 三国通覧図説 (Sangoku Tsuran Zusetsu)

Holly Throsby
Background information
Birth name	Holly Sarah Throsby
Born	(1978-12-28) 28 December 1978 (age 33)
Origin	Sydney, Australia
Genres	Folk, indie folk, indie pop
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	guitar, piano.
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Spunk Records
Website	hollythrosby.com

Holly Throsby (born 28 December 1978) is a songwriter, vocalist, guitarist and pianist from Sydney, Australia. Throsby was nominated for an Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) 'Best Female Artist' Award in 2006 for Under the Town^[1][2] and in the same category in 2008 for A Loud Call.^[3]

Career[link]

Holly Throsby was raised in Sydney, Australia and began studying guitar at the age of 8. She is the daughter of the renowned ABC Classic FM radio presenter Margaret Throsby. Her uncle is the noted cultural economist, David Throsby, and her grandmother was a cellist in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. As a child, Throsby was encouraged in her musical pursuits. She studied classical guitar techniques and began composing from the age of 11. After earning a B.A. degree (majoring in English) from the University of Sydney, Throsby worked in an art house video store and travelled extensively before recording her debut LP, On Night.

Recorded with experimental producer Tony Dupe at his cottage on Saddleback Mountain on the NSW south coast in 2003, On Night was noted for its lyrical sophistication, emotional resonance and bare, unadorned production (native bird calls, frogs and barking dogs can be heard throughout). It was released by the influential indie label Spunk Records in 2004 and received critical praise in Australia and abroad. Throsby soon found herself touring with the likes of Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Joanna Newsom, Smog, M. Ward and Devendra Banhart.

In 2006, Throsby released her second LP, Under the Town, again produced by Dupe and featuring a larger group of accompanying musicians. Retaining the literate warmth of the debut, Under the Town was again lauded by critics and Throsby was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Female Artist.

Throsby's third album, "A Loud Call", was recorded in Nashville by Mark Nevers (Lambchop, Andrew Bird) with string and horn arrangements recorded in the Kangaroo Valley, NSW, by Dupe. Featuring guest vocals by Will Oldham a.k.a. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and guest musicians from Lambchop and Silver Jews, "A Loud Call" was hailed by the Australian and the British press as Throsby's strongest work. On 10 September she was nominated for the second time for ARIA Award's "Best Female Artist".

In October 2010 Throsby released an album of original children's songs called "See!". Billed as an alternative "black sheep" children's album, "See!" features special guest cameos by Darren Hanlon, J. Walker, Jack Ladder & Margaret Throsby. It was released through ABC Music.

In 2011, Throsby released her fifth album, "Team". Recorded in a 19th Century church with Dupe, "Team" received a slew of four star reviews in the Australian & British press (The Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Mirror, The Sunday Times) and was lauded as Throsby's most experimental album, eschewing traditional song structure for layered, intersecting vocals expressing varying points of view around the subject of a relationship breakdown.

In June 2011, the debut album by Seeker Lover Keeper was released - a band comprising Throsby, Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann. The album, which was recorded in New York with engineer Victor Van Vugt (PJ Harvey, Nick Cave) and Dirty Three drummer Jim White, debuted at #3 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Seeker Lover Keeper completed a national sold-out tour in July, 2011.

Other projects[link]

In addition to recording, Throsby has written and illustrated two comic books which act as companion pieces to her albums.

Throsby, along with Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann is a member of the band Seeker Lover Keeper.

Trivia[link]

Throsby's song "A Heart Divided" is featured on an international TV and cinema campaign for Tourism Victoria, filmed in Australia and Finland. The ad was directed by Mike Daly and aired during the 2011 Australian Open and the 2012 Australian Open coverage in the US.

Throsby contributed a t-shirt design for The Yellow Bird Project to raise money for Amnesty International.

Throsby is a member of the Voiceless Council. Voiceless: The Animal Protection Institute is an independent non-profit think tank dedicated to alleviating the suffering of animals in Australia.

On her official website, Throsby lists her interests outside of songwriting as contemporary literature, political intrigue, cryptic crosswords, small towns and dogs.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• On Night (2004)
• Under the Town (2006)
• A Loud Call (2008)
• See! (2010)
• Team (2011)
• Seeker Lover Keeper (2011) - with Sarah Blasko and Sally Seltmann

Singles/EPs[link]

• Things Between People (2004)
• Everything Sings Out [UK tour EP] (2006)
• One of You For Me (2007)

Compilations[link]

• She Will Have Her Way - cover of "Not the Girl You Think You Are" by Crowded House (2005)
• Like a Version: Volume 2 - cover of "Mistress" by Red House Painters (2006)
• Like a Version: Volume 5 - cover of "Berlin Chair" by You Am I (2009)

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Holly Throsby

• Official site