Contact Information: CONTACT: Margaret Chabris 7-Eleven, Inc. 972-828-7285
7-Eleven(R) Gets 'Fresh' With Customers, Opens 'Green' Commissary, Distribution Center in Long Island
State-of-the-Art Facilities Prepare and Deliver Fresh Food to 674 7-Eleven Stores Across Long Island, Greater NYC, New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania
| Source: 7-Eleven, Inc.
BOHEMIA, NY--(Marketwire - January 28, 2009) - 7-Eleven, Inc. gets "fresh" with customers with
the opening of the company's environmentally in-tune Commissary and
Combined Distribution Center (CDC) in Bohemia, Long Island. At the new
mixed-use facility, fresh foods will be prepared and delivered to 674
7-Eleven stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The 130,000-square-foot facility is operated by Norris Food Services in
compliance with Department of Homeland Security and Department of
Agriculture food standards. More than 250 Long Islanders are employed at
the integrated distribution center and commissary kitchen, where daily
activities include the creation of a wide variety of fresh foods delivered
each day to local 7-Eleven stores.
"The building of the new Commissary and CDC demonstrates 7-Eleven's
approach to providing a broad selection of fresh, high-quality foods in an
environment that will conserve energy, water usage and utility costs," said
Joe DePinto, 7-Eleven president and CEO.
Food-processing areas were constructed with thick polymer concrete toppings
and contain anti-microbial agents that won't crack or shear off on the
floor. Light fixtures can be changed from outside the room to reduce
breakage and eliminate potential room contamination.
Because the site did not have access to a municipal sanitary sewer system,
7-Eleven invested in a gas-energy mixing system to treat the water before
discharging it.
"7-Eleven and Norris Food Services began planning this new complex two
years ago with an agreement to build an environmentally sensitive and
secure plant," said Dennis Phelps, vice president of fresh foods at
7-Eleven. "We are able to meet customers' fresh-food quality needs and
minimize the local environmental impact."
Despite the economic downturn, the opening of Long Island's new fresh foods
and logistics center provides hundreds of new jobs to area residents.
"7-Eleven and Norris Food Services choosing to build this high-tech,
'green' facility in our area is very important to our community because the
business brings employment opportunities within a facility that embraces
and showcases sustainability," said Phil Nolan, Supervisor, Town of Islip.
"LIPA is pleased to have been able to work with Norris Food
Services/Constance Foods on Economic Development rate incentives as well as
energy efficiency rebates and technical assistance through our Commercial
Construction Program," said President and CEO, Kevin S. Law. "As a result
of the partnership with LIPA and the government, this company was able to
remain on Long Island and contribute to our local economy."
"We are proud that National Grid's economic development gas rate incentives
and gas efficiency rebates contributed to Norris Food Services' decision to
expand their operations on Long Island. They are the recipient of the
first National Grid economic development incentive check," said Joe Rende,
Vice President of Energy Solutions.
William J. Norris, the owner of the CDC and commissary, is a veteran
convenience food professional, who has grown his business into a leading
Long Island company over the past two decades.
"We partnered with 7-Eleven because it's a disciplined organization and its
management team understands the importance of ensuring the highest-quality
and the best possible eating experience for their customers," Norris said.
Sandwiches, salads, entrees and other fresh foods are prepared in the
commissary's 72,000-square-foot kitchen that adheres to quality standards
that meet or surpass USDA regulations. An on-site USDA office and visiting
inspector ensure safe food-handling practices, and all must follow Hazard
Analysis Critical Control Point procedures established collaboratively by
the quality assurance departments of 7-Eleven, the commissary kitchen,
bakery and other third-party suppliers supporting and working with the food
preparation and delivery company.
The new CDC/Commissary complex is less than a mile away from the
one-year-old Glenn Wayne Bakery, which serves 7-Eleven stores in the New
York City area. To keep up with 7-Eleven customers' growing taste for
fresh-baked goods, partners Wayne Stelz and Glenn Alessi opened the new
30,000-square-foot facility last January, having outgrown its other plant
in Patchogue.
Glenn Wayne Bakery prepares 27 different varieties of baked goods each day
for 7-Eleven, which are transported to stores through the new CDC. Each
month, approximately 1 million donuts, brownies, muffins, cookies and other
items are baked fresh and distributed the same day to more than 275 stores,
with 20 more 7-Eleven stores expected to be opened this year in the NYC
area.
HOW IT WORKS
Through sophisticated inventory and computerized ordering systems, 7-Eleven
store operators place their orders by 10 a.m. each day for deliveries that
begin the very same day. The computer system quickly consolidates these
orders and transmits them to the CDCs, commissaries and bakeries that
support 7-Eleven stores across the U.S.
Upon receipt of the stores' orders, 7-Eleven sandwiches, salads and baked
goods are prepared fresh that same day, adhering to 7-Eleven's proprietary
recipes and strict specifications. Fresh food products are immediately
stamped with the time and date after they are made. Other perishable and
time-sensitive products are delivered throughout the day, to be sorted for
that night's delivery. Trucks are then dispatched to deliver each store's
merchandise between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. the next day.
To ensure quality, the CDC facility follows strict product-handling and
temperature standards. Products brought to the CDC are continually
maintained at prescribed temperatures throughout food preparation, sorting
and transportation cycles. The CDC also ensures the highest food quality
by
shipping from temperature-controlled docks. Delivery vehicles are equipped
to control two temperature zones -- operating both a refrigerated
compartment
maintained at 38° F and a dry compartment held at 70° F -- assuring food
safety, regardless of the season.
7-Eleven instituted the daily delivery of fresh foods, bakery items and
other perishable products to its nationwide network of stores in 1994.
Today, more than 5,600 7-Eleven stores across the U.S. and Canada now offer
customers fresh and safe products through this intricate preparation and
distribution system.
"The opening of this sophisticated distribution system represents an
expansion of 7-Eleven's and Norris Food Services' vision to provide
high-quality foods prepared in a safe and earth-friendly environment,"
Norris said.
About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience
retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises
or licenses approximately 7,800 7-Eleven® stores in North America.
Globally, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 35,500 stores
in 17 countries. During 2007, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total
sales of more than $46.6 billion. Named the #1 Franchise Opportunity for
2008 by Entrepreneur magazine, 7-Eleven is franchising its stores in the
U.S., and is expanding through organic growth, acquisitions, and its
Business Conversion Program. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.
MEDIA ADVISORY:
7-Eleven, Inc. celebrates the launch of this new green facility today
January 28th at 10 a.m. Qualified members of the press are invited to
attend the grand opening at 545 Johnson Avenue, Suite 10, Bohemia, New York
11716. B-roll and press materials are available. RSVP to Nancy Tamosaitis
at 917.371.4053, nancyt@vorticom.com.