Wilson Farms Stores Start Sporting 7-Eleven Colors

TONAWANDA, N.Y. -- The Wilson Farms store here will be waving a new banner soon, now that its transition to a 7-Eleven store is underway.

The changeover is a result of the acquisition pact the two retailers signed earlier this year, with 7-Eleven buying all 188 Wilson Farms locations in New York State. WFI Acquisition Inc., led by the Nanula family and Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. LLC, owned the Wilson Farms chain.

Margaret Chabris, director of public relations for 7-Eleven Inc., told the Tonawanda News that the staggered transition of the c-stores is on schedule. The Dallas-based chain announced in June that the rebranding would begin this fall. She did not give an end date for all locations to feature the familiar orange and green of the 7-Eleven brand.

The location at the corner of Niagara and Hinds streets here already bears the 7-Eleven logo. The store has remained opened as workers reconfigured aisles and products, according to the newspaper. The renovations also include new fixtures. 7-Eleven said local contractors have been hired for the remodeling program. The stores are operated using a franchisee agreement for most locations.

Wilson Farms has varying store hours in Western New York, with many locations closing around midnight, while 7-Eleven is regarded as a 24-hour operation. Neither company has commented recently on what store hours are planned, the report noted.

Bringing Wilson Farms locations into the 7-Eleven fold will greatly increase the c-store giant's presence in Western New York, the company said at the time the deal was announced. "Wilson Farms has a successful store operation, quality locations and a strong customer-service culture," stated Stan Reynolds, 7-Eleven's executive vice president and CFO. "The combination of the two companies will strengthen our convenience offering in the western New York area."