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The Dallas-based chain said the moves to end a 20-year relationship with Citgo had been in the works long before Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called George Bush “the devil” in a Sept. 20 speech at the United Nations.

Even so, 7-Eleven took advantage Wednesday of an opportunity to distance itself from Citgo.

“We sympathize with many Americans’ concern over derogatory comments about our country and its leadership recently made by Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chavez,” 7-Eleven said in a prepared statement.

In recent days, Citgo has been the target of bloggers calling for a boycott, and a Boston politician even demanded the removal of the famous Citgo sign outside Fenway Park in Boston.

But 7-Eleven spokeswoman Margaret Chabris said the change was unrelated to Chavez’s comments and had been in the works for almost a year.

“A lot of people took it out of context, thinking we are taking political position, which we are not. It’s not political, it’s a business decision.”

Citgo, in a prepared statement, said that earlier this year “after many months of deliberation” it decided to allow its gasoline supply contract with 7-Eleven to expire at the end of September.

The company said the contract to supply 7-Eleven didn’t fit in with its corporate strategy.
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