7-11 announced yesterday that it would not be renewing its 20 year contract with Citgo to provide fuel for 2,100 outlets .

The convenience store operator is dropping Citgo, a subsidiary of Venezuela's government-owned oil company, at about 2,100 stores. The retailer will replace Chavez's oil with supplies from several distributors, including Tower Energy Group in Torrance, Calif., Sinclair Oil of Salt Lake City and Frontier Oil (nyse: FTO - news - people ) of Houston.

While the timing of the annoucement makes a connection to Chavez' comments inevitable, it more likely that Chavez stepped on 7-11's announcement than 7-11 reacting to his UN screed. Citgo has been controversial for a least a couple of years now and considering the fuel is a fungible product, 7-11 just didn't need the grief.

I suspect Citgo will have a hell of a time replacing the business--who wants to buy fuel from a pariah?

The best thing that could happen for Citgo, and frankly for Venezuela, is that it be sold.