Some big changes are on the cards for 7-Eleven Australia after Japanese-owned giant 7-Eleven International took control in a November 2023 buyout.

At a recent KPMG seminar, chief executive Angus McKay said of the potential glow-ups, “Japanese stores … are the high mark around the global network. The way they present themselves, the store standards, the way they operate is just seamless and we’ve got a lot to learn from them.”

McKay isn’t naive to the leaps and bounds that 7-Eleven Australia could be making, saying, “We’ve been pushing for many years now to move away from being a pure chips and chocolate retailer.”

Under the new Japanese ownership, the executive is eager to stock more food, including fresh food, drinks and daily-made goods.

What those goods will be remains to be seen, but for many Australians, the changes can’t come soon enough.

As an empire built on two-for-one bottles of Gatorade and extortionately expensive handy packs of Panadol, in Australian 7-Elevens you’re not likely to find fresh onigiri like you would in the famously brilliant Japanese 7-Elevens, or crisp baguette sandwiches that the Danes are used to. That could all be about to change.

Related story: Taiwan proves once and for all that its 7-Elevens are better than ours

In some pockets of the world, convenience store/petrol station 7-Eleven has achieved a cult-like following for its surprisingly high-quality food, money-saving deals and even a bizarre impact on nightlife. While we await the upgrades Down Under, take a look at the 7-Elevens around the world we’ve been pining for.

Taiwan

It’s hard not to be envious when comparing to the Taiwanese 7-Elevens, which are absolutely next level, stocking ready-made meals from Michelin-starred restaurant Fujin Tree, providing dry-cleaning services, banking and postal services, health screenings, and a convenient place to pick up a new iPhone.

Indonesia

Have you ever heard of nongkrong? It’s the Indonesian slang for ‘hanging out and chilling’, a favourite activity for the youth of the archipelago, who are far less preoccupied with quick convenience, and more focused on a love of socialising and leisure.

7-Eleven Indonesia embraces this laid-back culture and offers indoor and outdoor seating, tasty ready-made meals, extended free wi-fi and performance spaces for local musicians. Access to cheap alcohol and a relaxed attitude to open containers means that the pavement outside Indonesian 7-Elevens is more akin to a beer garden than a convenience store.

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Thailand

We know that 7-Elevens in Australia can fit into even the most inconspicuous pocket of real estate – after all, how much space do you really need to sell $2 cups of coffee sans barista? – but sometimes bigger actually is better, just like the 7-Eleven in the Thai city of Pattaya. Known as the largest 7-Eleven in the world, it’s also one of the wackiest. The sprawling two-level superstore is fitted out with a nautical theme, where robot scuba divers zoom around checking stock levels and hot meals are prepared to order.

Endless aisles are filled to the brim with local cakes, breads, and fresh and frozen produce abound. Cosmetics are a huge part of the Pattayan store too so you can completely stock up for a new makeup regime while you wait for your green chicken curry to be prepared.

Japan

Listen closely. Is that the chorusing of angels? Is it the godly strains of Hallelujah emanating from high above? Actually, it was just the “ding” of an automatic door sliding open as you step into a Japanese 7-Eleven. You could be forgiven for thinking this is a religious experience. A Japanese “konbini” is a thing of beauty, a little corner store filled with every convenience you could ever desire, including foreigner-friendly ATMs, public toilets, free charging points, and a whole lot of very tasty, very fresh and very affordable food. Yes, in Japan you eat from the 7-Eleven, and it’s good. It’s very good. In fact, we’ve rounded up the 7-Eleven snacks you have to try on your next trip to Japan.

Why is 7-Eleven even called that?

In 1946, the chain’s name was changed from “Tote’m” to “7-Eleven” to reflect the company’s new trading hours, 7:00am to 11:00pm, seven days per week. Some stores are open all night, others close earlier, but the name has stuck regardless.

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