7-Eleven To Try New Items And Products

Chain investing $1 billion to make stores ‘more presentable from the fresh foods perspective.’

Convenience Store Decisions:
7-Eleven is urging suppliers to help boost the convenience store company’s innovative products pipeline, said Joseph DePinto, president and chief executive of the Dallas-based chain.

In a speech last week, DePinto said the retailer, which operates 7,200 stores in North America, is focusing on the elimination of poorly performing SKUs to prepare for new items.

‘I’m asking you to work with us in identifying innovative items,’ DePinto told a supplier heavy audience at the Grocery Manufacturers Association/Food Products Association Executive Conference. ‘We’re looking for new customer solutions and trends,’ he added. ‘Let us know and we’ll get it into our stores. Products not selling are being narrowed and deleted. So we’ve got the shelf space. We’re open to trying anything new that makes sense.’