DALLAS --7-Eleven convenience stores now offers on-demand delivery in six more markets through Postmates, a San Francisco-based technology and logistics company that provides this service through a network of independent couriers.
This is 7-Eleven’s second round of deployments with Postmates. The initial pilot launched in the San Francisco and Austin, Texas, markets in July.
Slurpee and other cold beverages are included in the Postmates delivery, which clocks in around 35 minutes from order placement to delivery. But the average time between product pickup at a 7-Eleven store to customer delivery is a mere 11 minutes, ensuring Slurpee beverages maintain their frosty deliciousness.
About 250 7-Eleven locations in New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle offer an assortment of 7-Eleven’s products from hot foods and snacks to cold beverages and other convenience-store items that are now available for delivery.
7-Eleven will continue to add participating stores in these markets as Postmates expands its service areas.
A user downloads the Postmates app through an iOS, Android or web app operated by Postmates, then scrolls through the list of retailers to select products they want to order. Postmates coordinates the delivery from the most convenient outlet and a nearby courier to fulfill the customer’s order within an hour.
“7-Eleven’s founder, Joe C. Thompson Jr., used to say 7-Eleven’s mission was to ‘give customers what they want, when and where they want it’,” said Raja Doddala, 7-Eleven’s vice president of innovation and omnichannel strategy. “Through the modern technology that Postmates provides, we can fulfill that promise in a way we haven’t done before.”
The partnership with Postmates is among 7-Eleven’s ventures into the on-demand economy and plays a role in the company’s omnichannel strategy to provide time-pressed customers solutions to their everyday needs.
“Through our partnership with Postmates, 7-Eleven’s reach extends beyond stores’ four walls,” Doddala said. “The program works well for us because it appeals to our customers who are more on-the-go, connected 24/7 and prefer fast-paced, urban living.
“Plus, we have market concentration in these geographic areas, which makes shopping with us through Postmates even more convenient for customers,” said Doddala, adding that “Postmates has figured out how to keep the Slurpee drinks cold and the Big Bites hot.”
“By partnering with 7-Eleven, we are able to offer both 7-Eleven and Postmates customers access to groceries, fresh food and other goods across all markets that our companies are both operating in.” said Holger Luedorf, Postmates senior vice president. “In providing 7-Eleven with a digital storefront and giving its team access to our fleet of more than 12,000 Postmates couriers, we are making the experience even more convenient for our joint customers.”
Meanwhile, Postmates has forged a deal with Deerfield, Ill.-based drug store chain Walgreens to offer on-demand delivery of beauty, household and health and wellness items from 600 Walgreens and Duane Reade stores across all markets for a flat $4.99 delivery fee for a limited time.
Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. operates, franchises or licenses more than 10,600 7-Eleven convenience stores in North America. Globally, there are more than 57,200 7-Eleven c-stores in 16 countries.
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