Paterno named chair of global trade group

MANILA, Philippines — Jose Victor Paterno, the president and CEO of Philippine Seven Corp. (PSC), the operator of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain in the country, has been named as the chairman of a global trade association dedicated to advancing convenience and fuel retailing.

Paterno has officially taken on the role of chairman for the 2023 to 2024 term of the US-based National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

He is only the second non-US retailer to assume the post, and the first from Asia.

For his term, Paterno aims to build an industry-wide technology platform that will allow retailers, big and small, to participate in growing digital ad spend from fast-moving consumer goods or FMCG manufacturers.

He said this is something that is happening in other retail formats, but not in convenience, due to its fragmented industry structure.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to take on the role. It is a tremendous privilege to represent not only PSC, but also the broader convenience store industry,” Paterno said.

“I take pride in what we’ve been able to accomplish in the Philippines with technology and market share, and am excited to take things to the next level in collaboration with some of the best retail and tech minds I’ve met at NACS and its partners,” he said.

The NACS serves as a trusted advisor to over 1,300 retailers and 1,600 supplier members from more than 50 countries.

Founded in 1961, the trade association started in the US, where it represents over 150,000 convenience stores, but later expanded globally to cover a total of 350,000 stores.

NACS is led by a 30-member board of directors, which includes the largest US convenience retailers, including 7-Eleven US.

On its end, the PSC currently oversees 3,600 7-Eleven stores operating in the Philippines.

About 54 percent of these stores is operating under franchise agreements and is rapidly growing.