Sept. 25--A second 7-Eleven delivery service has come to town, and this one brings Slurpees.
On Thursday, 7-Eleven announced that its partnership with on-demand delivery service Postmates is expanding to the Chicago market. This comes mere weeks after the convenience store chain inked a similar arrangement with DoorDash, with one glaring exception.
Postmates delivers Slurpees; DoorDash does not. "What else do you order from 7-Eleven if not a Slurpee?" quipped April Conyers, Postmates spokeswoman.
Frozen drinks aside, Conyers said over-the-counter medications, prepared foods and groceries were also popular items in Austin, Texas, and in San Francisco -- two other markets where Postmates has served 7-Eleven customers.
DoorDash spokesman Eitan Bencuya said: "Currently still no Slurpees, but we're actively working on it and we expect to offer it soon."
Like DoorDash, Postmates allows customers to order items through phone apps or the Internet. Delivery couriers track down the items from the nearest 7-Eleven. Postmates will make deliveries in Chicago, Evanston, Skokie, Wilmette and Winnetka, Conyers said.
Margaret Chabris, 7-Eleven spokeswoman, said the recent partnerships with the two delivery services are part of 7-Eleven's expanding innovation strategies.
"We're trying to find out what works best with our digital consumers," Chabris said. "We're looking at lots of different stuff."
7-Eleven hopes to eventually be able to deliver alcohol through both delivery services, but that's not currently available, Chabris said.
DoorDash might not deliver Slurpees, but it does offer themed "convenience packs" with items for date nights, hangovers, colds and game days.
DoorDash customers pay an initial delivery fee of $2.99, which will eventually increase to $4.99. Postmates delivery fees start at $5, plus a 9 percent service charge.
As for how the Slurpees are maintained frosty, Conyers said the delivery vehicles have insulated bags to keep the drinks cold.
gtrotter@tribpub.com
