- White Hen Pantry
. [cite web | title=White Hen Pantry Franchise | work=Franchise Advantage | url=http://www.franchiseadvantage.com/handbook/WhiteHenPantry.ihtml | accessdate=2006-04-17]
History
White Hen Pantry was founded and began franchising in 1965.
In 2000 its owner
Clark Retail Enterprises , Inc. sold all 55 White Hen Pantry stores inMassachusetts andNew Hampshire toNew England Pantry , Inc. in a 2001 agreement. This deal formed New England Pantry's current status as a sub-franchisor of theWhite Hen Pantry brand, and its exclusive franchisor in theNew England area. [cite web | title=White Hen Pantry Enters into Master Franchise Agreement | work=bizjournals | url=http://bizjournals.bison.com/press/pr4-4whitehen.html | accessdate=2006-04-17]In 2005 and the first part of 2006 White Hen franchises underwent a series of ups and downs. In the third quarter of 2005 the company planned to increase its store count in the Chicago area by as much as 25 over the course of 2006. While still foreseeing eventual growth, however, the company has changed its immediate plans and will sell 15 of its stores in 2006. One explanation for its revamped course of action stems from its recent push toward serving freshly prepared deli offerings to replace stagnating sales of tobacco and other traditional convenience store wares. In summer 2005, White Hen's push toward deli-fresh offerings was strong in Chicago, where it offered free samples of its
private label Pantry Select chips at an AugustChicago Cubs baseball game. [cite web | title=White Hen Pitches Deli at Cubs Game| work= Promo Magazine| url=http://promomagazine.com/news/whitehen_cubs_081805/index.html| accessdate=2006-04-17] Its new deli-fresh focus allegedly fails to meet the needs of some of the many demographics to which the store caters, and may be hedging the quick growth for which it had originally planned. [cite web | title=White Hen to close and sell 15 area stores| work= Crain's CHICAGOBUSINESS | url=http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=20058 | accessdate=2006-04-17]Recent
In line with its focus on deli-fresh goods White Hen opened what it billed as a "store of the future" in
Chicago 'sWicker Park neighborhood onApril 17 ,2006 . In addition to offering White Hen's standard fare, this particular venue offers "an expanded line-up of natural and organic foods, fresh Pantry Select green salads . . . and a toasted-to-order Hot & Fresh sandwich program with a state-of-the-art touch screen ordering system." [cite web | title=White Hen Expands with "Store of the Future"| work= Convenience Store News | url=http://www.csnews.com/csn/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002313646 | accessdate=2006-04-18]On
August 11 ,2006 , White Hen Pantry, Inc. was purchased bySeven & I Holdings Co. ,Japan 's No. 1 retailer and operator of7-Eleven convenience stores in the United States. [cite web | title=Seven & I buys U.S. convenience store White Hen| work=Reuters | url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlebusiness.aspx?type=consumerProducts&storyID=nT155497&WTmodLoc=Home-R4-IndustryHead-4&from=business | accessdate=2007-03-06] White HenCEO Brandon Barnholt cited the merger as a great opportunity for the company, its franchisers and its customers. In the near term following the acquisition, White Hen stores will continue to function as they have. [cite web | title=A Marriage of Convenience| work= 7-Eleven News Room | url=http://www.7-eleven.com/newsroom/articles.asp?p=2388 | accessdate=2006-08-11]In July
2007 , some White Hen stores began to be converted to 7-Eleven stores. Eventually, the White Hen name will disappear from the converted stores, being replaced with the 7-Eleven branding. The White Hen logo continues to be used for prepared foods such as sandwiches under the "Pantry Select" brand. Deli counters and products are being removed and replaced with standard 7-Eleven offerings.References
External links
* [http://www.whitehen.com/ Official Website (Chicago Area)]
* [http://www.newenglandpantry.com/ New England Website]
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