Convenience store operators
The first Australian 7-Eleven store opened in 1977, today there are over 700 stores around Australia. Acquired Mobil's entire Australian network of 295 petrol stations in 2010. Privately owned by the Withers/Barlow family until 2023 when Japan's Seven & i Holdings took over ownership. Seven & i also owns 7-Eleven in Japan and the USA.
Company Ownership
7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd
AUS
Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd
owns 100% of 7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd
JPN
Holding company
Japan's largest retail conglomerate. Operates about 85,000 stores worldwide, including 7-Eleven stores in Japan, USA and Australia.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Aug 2024)
Praise
Criticism
Information
7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
4/5 for packaging performance
This company received a packaging performance level of 4 (Leading) in its 2024 APCO Annual Report. Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice).
Source: APCO
(2024)
Worker exploitation
A 2015 investigation by Fairfax Media & Four Corners revealed that this company is ruthlessly rorting wages of its workers. Many workers are paid as little as $10 per hour, and up to two-thirds of its stores are ripping off their workers. The range of apparently illegal activity by franchisees extends beyond wage fraud and includes blackmail and withholding passports and drivers licences of staff.
Source: Fairfax
(2015)
Class action settlement
In July 2021 this company agreed to pay $98 million to settle a franchisee class action following mediation. Current and former franchisees alleged misleading and deceptive conduct, unconscionable conduct and contract breaches.
Source: news article
(2021)
Breaching workplace laws
In June 2014 the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) commenced an Inquiry into allegations that significant underpayment of wages and falsification of employment records were occurring across much of this company's network. The report released in April 2016 found concerning levels of non-compliance with the Fair Work Act 2009 and Fair Work Regulations 2009, including instances of deliberate manipulation of records to disguise underpayment of wages. The Inquiry found 7-Eleven’s approach to workplace matters, while ostensibly promoting compliance, did not adequately detect or address deliberate non-compliance and as a consequence compounded it.
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman
(2016)
Misleading a franchisee
In 2022 this company was ordered to pay $595,000 to a franchisee after the Victoria Supreme Court found the franchisor had made misleading statements about the term of a franchise agreement. The retailer was found to have breached the Australian Consumer Law in its pre-purchase dealings with Yong Li and Zhe Wang who bought the 7-Eleven Heathmont store in 2015. The couple believed the franchise agreement was for 10 years because of information in a number of documents provided by 7-Eleven; in fact the agreement was for a six-year lease with the option for the franchisor to extend the agreement to 10 years.
Source: Inside Retail
(2022)
Fined for pollution
In June 2017 this company was fined more than $7000 by Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) for failing to remove hydrocarbons from groundwater beneath a Newport premises in a timely manner.
Source: EPA
(2017)
Plastic pollution
In 2018 volunteers collected and catalogued more than 187,000 pieces of trash from beach cleanups around the world to find out which corporations are contributing the most to the global plastic pollution problem. This company ranked among the top 10 plastic polluters in the world, even though they only operate within Australia.
Source: #breakfreefromplastic
(2018)
Breaching advertising codes
This company has been criticised for offensive advertising. In 2012 the Advertising Standards Bureau upheld complaints about a print ad by this company on the grounds that it breached advertising codes. The ads were subsequently discontinued or modified.
Cage-free eggs commitment
This company is listed on the RSPCA Australia website as 'cage-free and proud', signifying that this business is sourcing cage-free whole eggs or eggs used as an ingredient. Essentially cage-free means barn laid, which is better than cage eggs, but still much worse than free-range or organic eggs when it comes to animal welfare.
Source: RSPCA Australia
(2024)
Worker repayments
In 2017 about 3,600 7-Eleven workers were paid out $150 million since revelations of under-payments and poor record-keeping.
Source: AFR
(2017)
Fuel supplied by Mobil
After 8 years of being supplied by Shell, 7-Eleven Stores entered into sole supply agreement with Mobil Oil Australia from January 1, 2012.
Source: company website
(2011)
Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd
Praise
Criticism
Information
CDP Climate Change score of A-
In 2023, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change score of A-.
Source: CDP
(2023)
10/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 10/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
76/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 76/100 in the Food & Staples Retailing category of the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices (last updated 23 Sep 2022). The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global
(2022)
15.8% in Forest 500 Rankings
Forest 500 identifies the 350 companies and 150 financial institutions with the greatest exposure to tropical deforestation risk, and annually assesses them on the strength and implementation of their deforestation and human rights commitments. This company received a score of 15.8%.
Source: Forest 500
(2023)
8/100 in KnowTheChain Benchmark
In 2023 KnowTheChain benchmarked 60 food and beverage companies on their efforts to identify and tackle forced labour risks in their supply chains. This company received a score of 8/100. The average score was a disappointing 16/100 and the highest score was 56/100.
Source: KnowTheChain
(2023)
8.4% in Human Rights Benchmark
The 2022 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assessed 127 companies in the food and agriculture, ICT and automotive manufacturing sectors on their human rights performance. This company received a score of 8.4%. The overall average score was a disappointing 17.3% and the highest score was 50.3%.
Tier 6 in farm animal welfare rankings
The Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare (BBFAW) 2023 Report ranks global food companies on their farm animal welfare policies, practices and performance. This company appeared in tier 6, "No evidence on the business agenda", with tier 1 being the best, and tier 6 the worst.
Source: BBFAW
(2023)
D grade in Plastic Promises Scorecard
As You Sow's 2024 Plastic Promises Scorecard measures the corporate ambition and action of 225 large companies across six industries on six core pillars of plastic packaging pollution prevention: 1) Recyclability, 2) Reduction, 3) Recycled Content, 4) Recovery, 5) Reuse, and 6) Producer Responsibility. This company received a grade of D.
Source: As You Sow
(2024)
13/100 in What Fuels Fashion?
What Fuels Fashion? is a single-issue, special edition of the Fashion Transparency Index. The 2024 report ranked 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers according to their level of disclosure on climate and energy-related data in their own operations and supply chains. Brands owned by this company scored 13%. The average score was 18% and the highest score was 75%.
Source: Fashion Revolution
(2024)
11/100 in Fashion Transparency Index
The 2023 Fashion Transparency Index reviewed 250 of the world's largest fashion brands and retailers and ranked them according to how much they disclose about their human rights and environmental policies, practices and impacts. Brands owned by this company scored 11%, signifying it is doing a bit more than the others when it comes to having policies and commitments in place and auditing and reporting activities, but could be doing more. The average score was 26% and the highest score was 83%.
Source: Fashion Revolution
(2023)
16.4% in Nature Benchmark
The Nature Benchmark ranks 816 companies across 20 industries on their efforts to protect our environment and its biodiversity. Companies were assessed in three phases between 2022 and 2024 using three measurement areas: governance and strategy; social inclusion and community impact; and ecosystems and biodiversity. This company was assessed in 2023 and is ranked #348/816, with a total score of 16.4/100.
Chocolate scorecard
Be Slavery Free's 2024 Chocolate Scorecard rates all the major chocolate companies on their labour and environmental policies and practices. Companies were asked questions in six areas: traceability and transparency; living income; child labor; deforestation and climate; agroforestry; and pesticides. This retailer received a grey rating: "Lacks transparency did not respond or complete".
Source: Be Slavery Free
(2024)
28.9% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 28.9/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek
(2017)
Climate action commitments
As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: commit to 100% renewable power.
Source: We Mean Business
(2021)
Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website.
Source: company website
(2023)
29.6% in Gender Benchmark
The 2023 Gender Benchmark ranks 112 companies from the apparel and food and agriculture sectors on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, violence and harassment, and marketplace and community. This company ranked #30/112, with a total score of 29.6%. The average score was 23% and the highest score was 55%.
25.7% in Food and Agriculture Benchmark
The 2023 Food and Agriculture Benchmark assessed 350 keystone companies across the entirety of the food system, from farm to fork. It covers three dimensions where transformation is needed: nutrition, environment and social inclusion. This company ranked #82/350, with a total score of 25.7/100.
Company Details
Type:
Private company
Founded:
1977
Revenue:
2.2 billion AUD
(2013)
Employees:
420
(2018)
Contact Details
Address:
357 Ferntree Gully Rd, Mount Waverley, VIC, 3150, Australia
Phone:
03 9541 0711
Website:
Products / Brands
7-Eleven Australia / Mobil Oil Australia (Fuel supplier)
7-Eleven
Fuel & Convenience Stores