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NEWS 7-ELEVEN INVESTS IN NEW SUPPLY CHAIN 7-Eleven Australia says it hopes to evolve its supply chain in a new partnership with cold storage company Emergent Cold. According to the retailer, the “major investment” will support the company’s sustainable growth and ongoing focus on fresh food and innovation. The new supply chain phase one is now live with ambient food and drinks delivered by one truck daily. Other categories will gradually migrate to the new supply chain with all categories expected to do so by August. 7-Eleven CEO Angus McKay says the need for a supply chain that can rapidly scale and expand based on network growth and 7-Eleven’s continually evolving offer was a key criterion for this initiative. “We’ve been working on this project for three years,” he said. “The new supply chain ecosystem will help our stores to make sure they have what their customers need when they need it. “One delivery per day, instead of once a week for ambient and frozen products, will help our franchisees to better manage inventory control and cashflow. It also has operational benefits as store team members aren’t having to manage huge delivery volumes at once, or daily multi- temperature single-vehicle deliveries.” In what is believed to be an Australian first, the key to this strategic initiative, says 7-Eleven, was the capability of delivering chilled and ambient products in the same delivery on the same truck. At peak, about 70 of these trucks will deliver some 4.5 million product units weekly to 7-Eleven stores. Daily, this is said to include 4,000 sandwiches, 6,000 packs of sushi, 8,000 meat pies, 16,000 sausage rolls and 30,000 cartons of milk. 7-ELEVEN GOOD CALLS CELEBRATE ‘HUMBLE HEROES’ 7-Eleven Australia has launched Good Calls, which it says celebrate those “humble heroes” doing good deeds in the community. Enlisting the help of Paralympian Dylan Alcott throughout May and June, 7-Eleven is asking people to nominate a ‘local legend’, someone who has been doing good in their community and is deserving of a Good Call. 7-Eleven says it is giving thanks with random acts of kindness that will come in all shapes and sizes for recipients including, for example, “the thoughtful neighbour supporting those who can’t get out of the house” or “someone working to support their community by taking their services online for those most vulnerable”. The retailer says the rewards, including free fuel, packages of 7-Eleven “goodies”, or supplies that will “continue to help local heroes carry out their deeds”, are its way of thanking those bringing the spirit of mateship to their communities. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen so many everyday Aussies step up and lend a helping hand to people who need it most,” Mr Alcott said. “Now the selfless, kind acts of these unsung heroes can be recognised with a 7-Eleven Good Call.”. To kick off the initiative, Mr Alcott surprised two “humble heroes” in their community with a 7-Eleven Good Call and rewarded them with $5,000 each to keep their good work going. 8 CONVENIENCE WORLD MAY/JUN, 2020