Editing Convenience store (section)

====7-Eleven====
{{Main|7-Eleven}}
[[Image:uspmadeleine1a.jpg|thumb|upright|A 7-Eleven shop under a block of flats]]

7-Eleven began the trend of convenience shops in Singapore when it opened its first shop in 1982 by [[Jardines (company)|Jardines]], under a franchise agreement with Southland Corporation of the United States.<ref name="ReferenceA">"The Business Times reports that in Singapore chains of mini-markets (or convenience shops) have rapidly sprung up to fill the gap between the large supermarkets and the neighbourhood shops (or provision shops). (1984, November 15). ''Business Times Singapore''.</ref> [[DFI Retail Group|Dairy Farm International Holdings]] acquired the chain from Jardines in 1989.<ref>Dairy Farm reviewing 7-Eleven businesses in Singapore and Malaysia ''[[Business Times (Singapore)|Business Times]]'' 12 April 1986</ref>

The number of 7-Eleven outlets continued to increase in 1984 while other chains were having difficulty expanding. One Plus was unable to expand due to the shortage of good sites. The original owners of the Myshop franchise, which had seven outlets, sold out to one of its suppliers due to a lack of demand.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

In 1985, 7-Eleven faced difficulty in finding favourable locations and failed to meet its one-shop-a-month target. The situation improved in 1986 with a new [[Housing & Development Board]] (HDB) tendering system, which allowed 7-Eleven to secure shops without having to bid too high a price.<ref>The 7-Eleven convenience store chain in Singapore, the franchise of which is held by Jardine Matheson, should nearly double its expected rate of opening one new store each month by the end of the year ''Business Times'' 5 November 1986</ref> 7-Eleven shops are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including Sundays and public holidays.<ref>Loh, Choon-Min James. (1988). ''The Adoption of A Retailing Innovation in A Newly Industrialising Country: The Modernisation of Local Provision Shops in Singapore''. United Kingdom: The British Library, p. 34.</ref> This 24/7 policy was seen as the reason that gave 7-Eleven its edge over its competitors.

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.<ref>Convenience shops hit regularly by grabbers ''[[The Straits Times]]'' 4 May 1990</ref> In response to the increase in the number of thefts, 7-Eleven stepped up security measures, which successfully lowered the crime rate by 60%.<ref>Chain stores' anti-crime moves pay off with 60% drop in crime rate ''The Straits Times'' 1 December 1991</ref>