AS world-renowned C-store brand 7-Eleven marks another year in the business, the franchise giant’s exclusive licensor in the country, Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC), celebrates the beginning of great things to come in the Visayas region with the milestone opening of its 200th store and a corporate social responsibility initiative.
The 200th store opening, according to Gil Abad (regional operations manager, Visayas regional business unit), marked the company’s continued strategic expansion campaign for 2016 in the Visayas region. This significant feat was proudly celebrated by 7-Eleven’s Cebu partners via festivities like motorcade, street dancing and tree-planting activities. Customers were also treated to ongoing in-store promotions, such as product samplings and surprise raffle prizes, among others.
Over the past four years PSC has successfully penetrated the Visayas, serving everyday convenience to seven (cities) locations. As a priority investment location for PSC, it is also one of the territories that have also seen consistent and unprecedented growth, with an average of 45 percent franchisees applying to operate their own C-stores.
Currently, the said region—in particular Metro Cebu, Negros Oriental, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental—remains one of the strongest footholds of the 7-Eleven franchise since it opened its doors in 2012, Abad said.
Abad attributed the franchise success in the Visayas to the region’s booming business environment and increasing number of suitable investors in the province, which beefed up the C-store system’s growth performance and profitability.
“Reaching the 200th store milestone is indeed a special day that must be celebrated. But, for us, this event serves as a testament to our customers’ overwhelming loyalty, confidence and support to 7-Eleven. As we open more stores and reach more people throughout the country, expect nothing but the best service offers, total commitment, exceptional shopping experience and top-quality products from the brand and the entire PSC team,” Abad said.
Green initiative
IN support of 7-Eleven’s global anniversary campaign on conservation and environmental awareness, the Visayas franchise group has also mobilized volunteers from all store outlets to participate in a tree-planting activity held in Purok Cantipla, Barangay Tabunan Watershed Reforestation Proper in Liloan in Cebu City.
PSC officers and staff, led by Krystine Yap (planning team leader for Visayas Regional Business Unit), planted some 2,500 (guyabano and coffee) seedlings during the event. The tree-planting is a joint project by 7-Eleven and Philippine Business for Social Progress Cebu, in support of the Go Green initiative of PSC, PhilSeven Foundation Inc., and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
“Recognizing the importance of protecting the environment, 7-Eleven partners in the Visayas chose to dedicate their time to this meaningful activity as their way of giving back to the community and also as their gift for the next generation,” Yap said.
With demonstrated global success, 7-Eleven’s franchise package offers suitable franchise partners two ways to benefit from a proven system—Regular New Store Franchise (open a new 7-Eleven store) and Property Conversion (convert an established business or properties into a 7-Eleven franchise). Apart from one-month preparatory training, partners are lent with assistance, especially at the first crucial stages of operational transition, from supervising, basic HR coaching, to sales monitoring.