Dive Brief:
- 7-Eleven has added a feature to its 7NOW delivery app that will enable customers to receive delivery at thousands of predetermined locations, including parks, beaches, sports fields, entertainment venues and other public spaces, according to a company press release.
- Customers can choose from beverages, fresh and hot foods, beer and wine from participating markets, snacks, cosmetics, home goods and thousands of other products.
- Shoppers use the app to auto locate their current location or show the nearest 7NOW Pin, which corresponds to a public place or space where delivery is available. A courier will pick up and deliver the goods in 30 minutes or less.
Dive Insight:
The convenience store segment is increasingly competing with QSRs by upping its food game, and more robust delivery systems will make convenience stores an even more competitive option. 7-Eleven is also taking a page out of Domino's book, which rolled out its Hotspots in 2018. This program allows customers to receive pizzas at thousands of set locations that are not traditional addresses.
"We continuously challenge ourselves to find even more ways to offer convenience and value to our customers — when and where people need it most," Raghu Mahadevan, 7-Eleven vice president of delivery, said in a statement.
Other convenience stores have been looking into delivery as well. Wawa launched catering across its 840 stores in May and is testing its own delivery service, even though it already uses third-party delivery providers. QuickTrip has been testing delivery with UberEats, and Casey's General Stores offers in-house delivery with its pizza. Retail consultant King-Casey anticipates that by 2023, over half of convenience stores will offer digital ordering and delivery, according to Convenience Store News.
With a majority of Americans living within 10 minutes of a convenience store, the more companies that offer delivery, the more of an option they might be for families to get food and beverages over restaurants.
