7-Eleven has opened five new stores in New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory over the last 12 months, continuing the region’s convenience store growth.

The retail chain’s latest outlet has opened at Metford in the Hunter region.

Acting NSW state manager Daniel Halaska said the investment was part of an ongoing commitment to growth in New South Wales.

“Over the past five years we’ve continually grown our network, and that growth has been particularly strong in regional centres like Maitland.

“We opened our first store in the Maitland area in 2016, and this store is the fourth in this growing region of New South Wales.”

Daniel said the growth has benefits for jobs in the community as well as the business.

“While our investment in expansion is good for 7-Eleven, it’s really rewarding to see the new jobs and career opportunities that come from it.

“The team in NSW is now more than 2,800 people including store leaders, corporate and franchised store team members, franchisees and support functions.

“Ten new recruits are part of the Metford team alongside experienced store manager Benjamin Mychael and I’m excited to see how they will grow their careers in the business,” he said.

The very first 7-Eleven store in New South Wales opened in Waterloo in 1981, four years after the chain arrived in Australia.

Today 7-Eleven Australia is locally owned and operated, with more than 700 stores across Victoria, NSW, ACT, Queensland and Western Australia, a mix of company-owned and franchised outlets.  There are more than 450 small family-owned businesses in the network.

Approximately 8,800 Australians work under the 7-Eleven brand, employed directly by 7-Eleven or indirectly through franchised stores, and these teams serve an average of seven customers every second across Australia.

This story originally appeared on Inside Franchise Business.