7‑Eleven’s Brands with Heart™ FAQ

What is Brands with Heart? 

• Brands with Heart is a program that helps us find diverse products to bring into our stores and drive our many consumers to those brands.  
• Check out previous highlights here https://corp.7-eleven.com/corp/brands-with-heart 

What is new with Brands with Heart

• We will continue to have the food show in our Texas office (October 19th-20th), but also include a 2nd food show at our Speedway office in Ohio
• We will have an in-store activation in multiple locations throughout the country (timing and locations TBD)
• Select brands will be given the opportunity to sell directly to our franchisees and stores

How many brands will be accepted?

• We anticipate accepting 50-75 brands, but that number could fluctuate once we begin looking at submissions

Who is judging the process?

• 7-Eleven’s Emerging Brands team, along with a cross functional group of other employees at 7-Eleven

How are you selecting brands to move to the next phase?

• We are looking at brands on a multitude of areas, including but not limited to the below
• Is the product unique/differentiated?
• Does it fit within convenience (size, price, packaging, etc)
• Is the brand’s story compelling?
• Is there a strong following of the brand?
• Is the product on trend?

Will being selected guarantee me placement in 7-Eleven® stores?

• No, brands selected will have the opportunity to participate in a limited in-store activation and highlight your brand to leadership at 7-Eleven which could lead to testing and placement.  
• Select brands will be given the opportunity to sell directly to our franchisees and stores

Are there any type of products that should not be submitted?

• Yes, we cannot accept any consumable CBD products at this time

When will registration close?

• At 11:59pm EST on May 31st

I participated in past Brands with Heart, am I eligible to participate again?

• Yes, as long as the brand isn’t in wide distribution at 7-Eleven or Speedway® stores.

After I submit, what are the next steps?

• All brands will be informed of our decision via RangeMe, and if selected details on next steps, including sample requests.

Why are you requesting a video submission (optional) and what should be included?

• We want to ability to hear directly from founders the story behind their brand and why they worked so hard to create it.  We will work with select brands to utilize the video to help share the story across our marketing tactics.
• There are no parameters to what you should include in the video.  We just want to know your story! 

How will product be delivered to stores for the in-store activation?

• If a brand is already set up with a wholesaler or DSD partner we use, we will use them

• If not, we will ask product to be sent directly to the store

Am I required to participate in the in-store activation?

• No.  We want to use it as an opportunity to drive consumers to your brands, but also understand the cost associated with sending free product to a store and will utilize other methods to drive consumers to your brand.  

What costs are associated with participating?  

• Product samples (2-3 units)
• Free fills for in-store activation (1 case per flavor, store count TBD)
• Travel and lodging to our food show in Irving, TX or Enon, Ohio
• Promotional materials and samples for food show 

Are there any caps of products per category?

• No, but will avoid duplication among product types.  

Where do I send samples? 

• Please do not send samples, until requested to do so.  

Can I save a partially completed application to edit at a later time?

• Yes, there are options available in RangeMe to save your drafted application and come back at a later time/date to edit before submitting. Note: While you can save a partially completed application, it must be submitted and approved before the deadline in order to be considered.

Can I change my application after I submit it?

• Once your application has been submitted, you cannot make any edits.

How will I know if my application was successfully submitted?

• You will receive an automated email from RangeMe immediately following your submission confirming receipt of your application. If you do not see the email after you have submitted, be sure to check your Spam or Junk folder.

How can I check the status of my product submission?

• Due to the high volume of submissions, our team or RangeMe are not able to provide status updates via email or telephone. You will receive an email notifying you whether your product has been selected as a finalist of this search no later than June 25th.