7-Eleven Earns Recognition for Its Digital Transformation
IRVING, Texas — 7-Eleven Inc. has been on a digital transformation journey over the past several years, and it has not gone unnoticed.
The convenience retailer was honored for Best Overall Digital Transformation at the Modern Retail Awards on Feb. 3.
This year's Modern Retail Awards honored retailers that powered through the changes and uncertainty brought about in 2021 while finding ways to address social injustice through marketing campaigns, pivot to keep pace with shifting consumer habits and more.
As the retailer noted, 7-Eleven transformed its loyalty app to provide frictionless experiences such as mobile checkout and digital wallet, and continued to accelerate 7NOW Delivery over the past year.
7-Eleven launched these initiatives to scale its digital footprint and cater to changing customer behaviors and expectations during the pandemic, it added.
"I am extremely proud of Team 7-Eleven for being named Best Digital Transformation by the Modern Retail Awards. We strive to be the customer's first choice for convenience no matter where they need us. By providing frictionless experiences such as mobile checkout, digital wallet and fuel loyalty through the 7-Eleven app, as well as accelerating our proprietary 7NOW Delivery service, we are redefining convenience for customers," said President and CEO Joe DePinto.
Convenience Store News recognized 7-Eleven as its Technology Leader of the Year in 2019. The convenience retailer was selected for several initiatives, including:
- The addition of 7NOW Pins to its 7NOW delivery app. The proprietary technology allows customers to receive deliveries where it's convenient for them, from parks and beaches to sports fields and entertainment venues;
- The Mobile Checkout platform, which grew out of a test of a Scan & Pay checkout platform in Dallas. The frictionless shopping experience lets customers skip the checkout and pay for their purchases using the 7-Eleven app; and
- The continued expansion of its payment options to now include Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
Irving-based 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 14,000 stores in the United States and Canada. In addition to 7–Eleven stores, 7–Eleven Inc. operates and franchises Speedway, Stripes, Laredo Taco Co. and Raise the Roost Chicken and Biscuits locations. Its 7Rewards loyalty program has more than 50 million members, and its 7NOW delivery app is available in more than 2,000 cities.
Foxtrot Honors
The Modern Retail Awards also recognized Chicago-based Foxtrot Market as Most Innovative Retail Model.
Founded by Mike LaVitola and Taylor Bloom in 2014, Foxtrot was created to modernize the nostalgic corner store experience by creating a digital-first e-commerce platform paired with a retail experience that fulfills daily needs alongside new, trending brands from around the world.
Since launching first as a digital-only delivery service, the retailer has opened several brick-and-mortar locations across Chicago, Dallas and Washington, D.C., each offering rapid, on-demand delivery and five-minute pickup; introduced a national shipping platform called Foxtrot Anywhere; and pioneered technology to support its omnichannel operating model.
As part of its growth strategy, Foxtrot is planning to add 50 locations to its next over the next two years. Last month, the retailer announced $100 million in new Series C funding led by D1 Capital Partners. This brings the company's total funding to $160 million, which Foxtrot will use to open 25 new stores in 2022.