Just when you thought you’d reached the peak of culinary convenience by grabbing a Big Bite while filling up your tank, 7-Eleven has decided to crash your next planned-ahead event. The king of the Slurpee is officially moving into the catering business, proving that you can, in fact, bring the gas-station vibe to your corporate boardroom.
Partnering with ezCater, 7-Eleven is looking to pivot from its “I’m hungry right now” reputation to a “go-to solution for group meals.” Because if there’s one thing a morning strategy meeting needs, it’s a stack of cardboard boxes filled with 14-inch convenience store pizzas.
What’s on the Menu?
This isn’t just about putting 50 taquitos on a silver platter. 7-Eleven is leveraging its restaurant-style sub-brands to provide a surprisingly varied spread:
- Laredo Taco Company: For when you want to get fancy with a “made-from-scratch” taco bar, breakfast tacos, chips, and queso. This is arguably the Black Tie option of the menu.
- Speedy Cafe: This handles the more traditional office fare, including salads, breakfast sandwiches, lunch boxes, and, of course, the classic 14-inch pizzas.
The chain is quick to emphasize that this is made-to-order food prepared daily in on-site kitchens. So while it technically qualifies as gas station food, they want you to know it was made for you, not just rescued from the heat roller at 2 a.m.
So, What Situations Are Ideal for This?
The company stated that catering allows them to serve planned-ahead occasions, complementing their 7NOW on-demand delivery app.
But let’s be real about the primary draw here: The price. In an era where catering a simple office lunch from a trendy bistro can cost more than a mid-sized sedan, 7-Eleven is positioning itself as the go-to for catering if you’re trying to save money. It’s for the manager who wants to be a hero for feeding the team but only has a $50 budget for fifteen people.
This move comes at an interesting time for the brand. While they are expanding into group meals, they are also tightening the belt elsewhere, with roughly 645 stores set to close in the next year. By focusing on higher-margin, high-volume catering orders, the brand is clearly trying to squeeze more value out of its existing kitchen infrastructure.
More From Cheapism
- 7-Eleven Closing More Than 600 Stores This Year — 7-Eleven might be expanding its reach into catering, but the convenience chain is still shuttering more than 600 of its locations this year.
- Is 7-Eleven Pizza Ever Worth It? — From roller items to chicken, there are lots of food items at 7-Eleven, and this is how the pizza stacks up.
- A Guide to Costco Catering: Menu Choices, Prices, and Ordering Tips — If 7-Eleven doesn’t fit the vibe you’re going for, Costco has a catering menu that might be worth checking out.
