7-Eleven adds Instacart to on-demand delivery mix
The world’s largest convenience store retailer keeps giving customers more options to stay home.
7-Eleven is piloting same-day delivery of thousands of convenience, alcohol and grocery items via Instacart in more than 750 stores in Dallas, Miami, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas, with plans to expand nationally to more than 7,000 stores across the U.S. The retailer says delivery will often occur in as fast as 30 minutes.
For both companies, the partnership is part of a larger continuing trend. In April, 7-Eleven introduced on-demand delivery via services from Postmates, DoorDash, and Google, as well as regional same-day provider Favor in Texas. And in June, 7-Eleven Hawaii started offering same-day delivery via the Vroom Delivery platform. The retailer wants to expand access to delivery as more consumers shop online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Instacart has been entering a number of new verticals beyond its core grocery offering, with 7-Eleven marking its entry into the national convenience sector. Other retailers outside the grocery vertical Instacart has initiated partnerships with in recent months include The Vitamin Shoppe, Walmart, Big Lots, and Staples.
Through the new collaboration, customers will have access to a variety of 7-Eleven products for delivery, including pantry staples like milk, bread and eggs, alcohol, snacks, over-the-counter medicine, energy shots and drinks, and more. 7-Eleven delivery via Instacart is available as early as 8 a.m. and as late as 10 p.m., with expanded delivery windows launching in the months ahead.
Customers can visit the dedicated 7-Eleven page on the Instacart site or open the Instacart app, enter their ZIP code, select the 7-Eleven storefront and begin adding items to their Instacart grocery cart. An Instacart personal shopper will pick and deliver the order within the customer’s designated time frame, which can be as quickly as possible or up to days in advance.
“7-Eleven got its start 93 years ago because of its forward-thinking innovation that forever changed the way people shop,” said Chris Tanco, COO at 7-Eleven. “Our success then, and today, is built on continued innovation that ensures we continue offering our customers exceptional products and services when and where they want them. Adding 7-Eleven to Instacart’s platform was a logical step – we are able to offer even more customers the 7-Eleven conveniences they know and love.”
“We’re excited to introduce 7-Eleven as Instacart’s first national convenience store partner,” said Nilam Ganenthiran, president of Instacart. “7-Eleven is a beloved, generational brand with a deep legacy. They’re the world’s largest convenience retailer, and are known for delivering consumers an around-the-clock accessible, convenient and affordable experience anytime, anywhere,”
Based in Irving, Texas, 7 Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 71,100 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America. Instacart partners with more than 400 national, regional and local retailers to deliver from over 30,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America.