7-Eleven celebrates supplier partners at 2023 Our Partners Our Futures event

7-Eleven gathered with its supplier partners at the 2023 Our Partners Our Futures event in Melbourne recently to share its ambition and the strategic focus areas that are going to be a major part of the company achieving its ambition of a billion customer moments by 2030.

The partners heard from 7-Eleven CEO and Managing Director Angus McKay, Executive General Manager – Product, Matt Keogh, Head of Merchandise Rob Kirby, and Head of Food Emma Metcalf-King before getting the chance to experience a number of interactive zones focused on microformats, sustainability, food, and various elements of supply chain and merchandise management.

According to Matt Keogh, Executive General Manager - Product, the event was an opportunity to connect with supplier partners and share more about the opportunities to grow together.

“It was fantastic to get together in person for the first time in a number of years to share our strategy with suppliers. We appreciated them taking time out of their day so that we could bring to life some the initiatives we believe are going to provide sustainable benefit across our stores, our business, and for our supplier network in the future,“ Mr Keogh said.

“The chance to gather together to connect and say thank you for their contribution was also really important to us.”

The event concluded with the 2023 7-Eleven Supplier Awards which saw a range of supplier partners across merchandise and support services recognised for their extraordinary contribution to the 7-Eleven business.

The finalists and winners were:

Customer experience excellence: Winner: PHD Media. Finalists: Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, The Taboo Group.

Sustainability excellence - Winner: Our Most Sustainable Coffee Ever - Ueshima Coffee Company, Fairtrade Australia & New Zealand and BioPak. Finalists: Simply Cups Program – Closed Loop, 7-Eleven Hot Chockee – Nestlé

Service provider of the year – Winner: Blue Connections IT. Finalists: BCG, Clifford Signs.

Fuel supplier excellence – Winner: Monaro Fuel Haulage. Finalists: Kalibrate, Mobil.

Supply chain excellence - Winner: Asahi Lifestyle Beverages. Finalists: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Sanitarium.

Best new 7-Eleven Product launch – Winner: 7-Eleven Puff Pastry Bakes from The Outback Pie Co. Finalists: 7-Eleven Smoothies from Fresh Blends Australia, 7-Eleven Sweet Food on the Go from Allied Pinnacle.

Account Manager of the Year – Winner: Stavroula Drakos – Patties Foods. Finalists: Derryk Kane – Sanitarium, Lauren Daniels – Red Bull.

Supplier of the year – Winner: Frucor Suntory. Finalists: Red Bull, Ueshima Coffee Company.

“Congratulations to all of our finalists and winners. They have made a significant contribution to our success over the past year and we are pleased to be able to celebrate their efforts.”

“On behalf of the business and our entire team, I would like to thank all of our supplier partners. We can’t continue to grow, innovate and provide an offer that makes our customers’ lives easier without their support.”