Webloggin » 7-Eleven Dumps CITGO

It is being reported on ABC news via WLS radio (AM 890) that Hugo Chavez’s latest comments have turned into a nightmare and a liability for the 7-Eleven food chain. Today 7-Eleven is announcing that they have decided to drop CITGO and launch their own independent brand.

Finally, something makes sense in the world.

Update: It is official!! The Chicago Tribune has the press release.

DALLAS — Convenience store operator 7-Eleven Inc. is dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo as its gasoline supplier at more than 2,100 locations and switching to its own brand of fuel.

The retailer said Wednesday it will purchase fuel from several distributors, including Tower Energy Group of Torrance, Calif., Sinclair Oil of Salt Lake City, and Houston-based Frontier Oil Corp.

A spokeswoman for Dallas-based 7-Eleven said its 20-year contract with Citgo Petroleum Corp. ends next week. About 2,100 of 7-Eleven’s 5,300 U.S. stores sell gasoline.

The reasons are simple:

7-Eleven spokesman Margaret Chabris said that, “Regardless of politics, we sympathize with many Americans’ concern over derogatory comments about our country and its leadership recently made by Venezuela’s president Hugo Chavez.”

Chabris said a boycott of Citgo gasoline would hurt the 4,000 employees of the U.S. subsidiary, who have no connection to Venezuela.

So much for the IndyMedia Citgo “BUYCott” - Support Chavez; Buy CITGO Gas - Join the BUYcott

Take that Chavez!!

Previous: Boycott Citgo? Where have you been?

Others:

Michelle Malkin: 7-11 pulls plug on Citgo

Hot Air: Report: 7-11 dumps Citgo (Update: Dropped before)