Monday, January 26, 20267-Eleven, Inc. Selects Standout Emerging Brands for 2026 Brands with Heart™ Showcase

7-Eleven, Inc. Selects Standout Emerging Brands for 2026 Brands with Heart™ Showcase

IRVING, TX (January 27, 2026) – 7-Eleven, Inc. named 26 emerging brands to participate in its 2026 Brands with Heart™ showcase, an initiative that celebrates innovation and the next generation of consumer products. Entering its seventh year, the program connects early-stage brands with new retail opportunities and offers the potential for expanded distribution across 7-Eleven®, Speedway® and Stripes® locations throughout the United States.

The 2026 participants were selected from a pool of more than 700 applicants through a competitive review process led by the retailer’s 7-Ventures & Emerging Brands team. This year’s cohort reflects the company’s continued focus on brands that offer clear differentiation and strong consumer appeal.

Leading up to the Brands with Heart showcase, finalists joined a series of virtual sessions to gain insights into 7-Eleven’s retail ecosystem. During the showcase, held at the 7-Eleven Store Support Center in Irving, Texas, founders had the opportunity to have their products sampled, participated in one-on-one pitch meetings with category teams and engaged in educational discussions focused on merchandising strategy and scaling within convenience retail. 

Following the showcase, select Brands with Heart participants will be invited to launch regional in-store tests beginning in the first half of the year, providing an opportunity to further evaluate performance and consumer response.

“At 7-Eleven, we see emerging brands as a key driver of what’s next in convenience retail,” said Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer at 7-Eleven. “Programs like Brands with Heart allow us to partner with entrepreneurs who are rethinking products and business models in ways that resonate with today’s customers.”

Each brand selected for the 2026 program brings a clear sense of differentiation, whether through functional ingredients, unique formulations, packaging innovation or brand storytelling – helping them stand out in a crowded marketplace. 

Learn more about the 2026 Brands with Heart participants below:

  • Focus Fuel - Energy Gummies that offer clean, portable energy featuring natural caffeine and nootropics, designed for focus and convenience. 
  • Hormbles Chrombles - High-protein, zero sugar candy bars with crunchy cores, delivering indulgent texture with functional nutrition. 
  • Smash Foods - Jam-packed, superfood protein bites sweetened with dates

2026 Brands with Heart participants include:

###

About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name in the U.S. convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 13,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. In addition to 7-Eleven® stores, 7-Eleven, Inc. operates and franchises  Speedway®, Stripes®, Laredo Taco Company® and Raise the Roost® Chicken and Biscuits  locations. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee®, Big Bite® and Big Gulp®, 7-Eleven offers customers fresh, high-quality and convenient food options like sandwiches, salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings and mini beef tacos. 7-Eleven also offers customers industry-leading packaged products at an outstanding value with its 7-Select™ private brand. Customers can earn and redeem points on various items in stores nationwide through its  7Rewards® and Speedy Rewards® loyalty programs, which have more than 100 million members. Customers can also place an order in the 7NOW® delivery app with real-time tracking and delivery typically in about 30 minutes, subject to driver availability, weather and traffic conditions. Find out more online at www.7-eleven.com

View All Press Releases