Responding to consumers’ stay-at-home shopping behavior due to COVID-19, leading restaurant meal delivery provider DoorDash is partnering with C-store chains, including 7-Eleven and CircleK.
The C-store vertical is seeing less foot traffic, plus gas sales are way down since people are not driving as much. Delivery services are finding a major surge in business since the virus hit, and the challenge now becomes whether an expanded fulfillment network can be maintained due to driver health, safety, and pay issues.
The following C-Store Decisions article reports more on this topic, and is excerpted below:
DoorDash announced its expansion beyond food with the launch of a new ‘Convenience’ category on the app. Customers will now have access to everyday essential items, household staples and ready-made meals during this critical time.
More than 1,800 c-store locations nationwide have partnered with DoorDash, including 7-Eleven, CircleK, Wawa and Casey’s General Stores, to offer access to household essentials such as toilet paper, cleaning supplies, over-the-counter medicine, as well as prepared hot and cold foods, drinks and snacks. To get the household essentials they need, consumers can look for the ‘Convenience’ icon or banner at the top of the app.
The launch aims to help distribute daily convenience essentials during a critical time when household items are in high demand and short supply. It is also meant to empower local businesses and franchise owners to reach new customers through the DoorDash platform offering critical supplies to their communities during a time when delivery and pickup are vital to the health of their business.
Overview by Raymond Pucci, Director, Merchant Services at Mercator Advisory Group