Tough Times Call For True Partnership

By Sukhi Sandhu, NCASEF Chairman

Across the country, families are still feeling the pinch. Prices keep rising, paychecks aren’t stretching as far, and even though the government has reopened—and federal workers and SNAP recipients are finally receiving their pay and benefits again—the strain hasn’t lifted. For many households, recovery doesn’t happen overnight. Their local 7-Eleven remains more than a convenience store; it’s one of the few places they can count on to be open, stocked, and welcoming. As franchisees, we’re seeing the pressure our communities are under every single day.

Every day, customers seem to walk into our stores with tighter budgets. They’re making trade-offs, counting every dollar, and looking for value wherever they can find it. And while the cost of doing business keeps going up—from wholesale prices to credit card fees to utilities—our profit margins remain razor thin. Franchisees are working harder than ever just to keep up, serving their neighborhoods faithfully while absorbing more of the financial burden themselves.

In moments like these, it becomes clear that our system’s strength depends on partnership—real partnership, not just in words but in actions. Franchisees, SEI, and vendors all play essential roles in keeping the 7-Eleven brand strong. But when times are tough, that strength is tested. It’s easy to talk about teamwork when sales are up and costs are down; it’s much harder when every line on the P&L feels like it’s pulling in the wrong direction.

The reality is that franchisees can’t shoulder these challenges alone. Rising product costs, inflationary pressures, and reduced customer spending all combine to create a situation where stores need flexibility, not rigidity, from the system above them. This is when SEI should be working closer with franchisees to find ways to relieve pressure and protect profitability. In the long-term, we need to be reviewing the Franchisee Agreement, focusing on franchisees’ net profitability and the health of the franchisee model. In the short-term, this means revisiting policies like the Gradual Gross Profit Split (GGPS), adjusting supply chain markups, and ensuring that promotional programs truly help stores drive traffic and sales, not just move product.

Our vendor partners are part of that solution, too. Many of them have stood with us through difficult times, offering strong promotions, supporting FOA trade shows, and helping franchisees identify new items that excite customers. Those relationships matter. Vendors who step up now, who understand that affordability drives volume and that franchisee success equals their success, will earn lasting loyalty.

At the same time, communication and transparency have never been more important. Franchisees need timely information about pricing changes, program updates, and supply issues so they can plan properly and make informed decisions. Too often, these conversations happen after the fact, leaving storeowners reacting instead of preparing. True partnership means making sure every franchisee has the knowledge and support to adapt quickly when circumstances change.

We also need to recognize what our stores represent during times like these. When government services slow down or stop altogether, when families can’t rely on a paycheck or benefits, 7-Eleven stores remain open. Franchisees keep their doors unlocked, lights on, and coffee brewing, providing small comforts and daily essentials to communities that depend on them. That reliability is a core part of the 7-Eleven promise, but it comes at a cost that franchisees continue to bear.

So this is a moment for unity. For SEI to stand beside the franchisees who carry its brand every day. For vendors to strengthen their partnerships and look beyond short-term numbers to long-term relationships. And for franchisees to continue working together through their FOAs and NCASEF, making sure our collective voice stays strong and clear.

The economy will recover—it always does. But the decisions we make during hard times reveal the kind of brand we truly are. When we act with fairness, empathy, and collaboration, we build trust that endures well beyond any crisis.

In times like these, the only way forward is together.