7-Eleven plans to add stores in North America

7-Eleven Inc., the largest U.S. convenience-store company, said it planned to add 30% more North American outlets and would start selling hot meals to fend off rival chains and supermarkets encroaching on its territory.

The Dallas-based company, bought by Tokyo-based Seven & I Holdings Co. last year, operates and franchises 6,100 stores selling snacks, slush drinks and soda in the U.S. and Canada. 7-Eleven intends to raise that number to about 8,000 by 2010.