Plans to build up heavy brand presence in the country’s North are underway for world-leading convenience store chain 7-Eleven, as it targets to penetrate the rural outskirts of Cagayan Valley up to Aparri, according to its exclusive local licensor Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC). PSC disclosed that while the expansion campaign has been successfully rolling out since 2017, it aims to further explore potential franchise growth opportunities in far-flung provinces in North Luzon. "Since 7-Eleven already put up its store network in key cities within Region 2, PSC is eyeing to even expand far north up until Aparri, so as to cater customers that are located outskirts of the cities," said PSC Business Development Division Head Ulysses Borral. PSC is targeting to have at least a total of 40 stores on a three-year time frame or by end of 2020. In retrospect, the successful expansion in Region 2, is a two-year project in the making. Last year, PSC opened 14 C-stores in the region. "Cagayan Province, specifically in Tuguegarao City, has the most numbers in terms of franchise applications. Most franchisees are willing to have multiple stores," shared Borral. Other targeted store locations are the upper side of Cagayan Province, most likely in areas of Claveria, Aparri and Sta. Ana which aim to meet the needs of communities in the northernmost part of Luzon as well as the province of Apayao. “We are still eyeing in expanding in Upper Cagayan. This is the last frontier of the expansion but its potential is similar to other Region 2 stores that are performing well,” noted Borral. Another key prospect for the C-store giant is Kalinga Province in the Cordillera region, as a way of catering the locals coming from Mountain Province. The Tabuk City Hall store will be the first 7-Eleven store in Kalinga province.