7 Brew Coffee is a Food On Demand Outstanding Operator.
The coffee chain, which also serves a range of smoothies, teas, lemonades, and energy drinks, keeps gaining popularity. Back in 2021, the brand had only seven locations in Arkansas; now it has more than 340 locations across 32 states. So, what’s brewing this rapid growth?
Nick Chavez, 7 Brew’s CMO, says it’s not just about the high-quality drinks that keep customers coming back. It’s also exceptional customer service.
Unique drive-thru operations
All locations operate as drive-thru businesses. Every spot features double-lane drive-thrus, making for a faster and smoother experience. The team, called “The Brew Crew,” is always a step ahead. They greet customers as soon as they pull into the lane with an iPad to take their order, personalizing it and building relationships with regulars. The system makes sure that by the time customers reach the window, their drinks are ready to go.
Since employees greet customers early, they can input things like a customer’s phone number. This ties into the rewards program. “Over 90 to 95 percent of our transactions occur through our rewards program,” says Chavez.
“The great part about this is that as soon as a customer shares their phone number, our Brewistas have everything they need right at their fingertips through the iPad,” Chavez explains. “This includes order history, preferences like milk alternatives, drink preferences, and any allergies or other important notes.” It’s a great way to personalize the customer experience and keep things moving quickly.
Once a drink order is entered into the iPad, it’s immediately displayed on the kitchen systems. “Brewistas inside can see exactly where the order is coming from, which car it’s from, and which point in the line it’s at,” Chavez explains.
On top of that, customers earn 100 points for every drink they buy. Once they hit 1,000 points, they get a free drink of any size. Basically, every 10 drinks gets you a free one—simple as that.
Endless customization
Chavez adds that with over 20,000 possible drink combinations, there’s a lot of room for customers to experiment. Customizing drinks is especially popular with younger generations who love trying new flavors.
When it comes to future tech, Chavez says their goal is for “technology to be in service of the customer, not the other way around.” He also mentions that they have no plans to automate the drive-thru or use voice AI, but they are always looking for ways to improve.
Surprisingly, 7 Brew Coffee doesn’t offer online ordering or third-party delivery “yet.” Chavez says it’s something they’ve heard a lot from customers and are working on carefully to make sure they do it right.
“So stay tuned for more info on our e-commerce capabilities, our order-ahead features, and delivery options. It’s something we hear about all the time, both directly from customers and on social media,” he said.
“When we do it, we want to make sure it’s done the 7 Brew way—keeping the kindness and quality we’re known for, while still maintaining that human interaction. Even if we’re delivering 7 Brew to your door, we want it to still be the best part of your day.”
Modular construction for fast growth
The brand’s quick growth can also be credited to its modular construction method, which helps it build new locations faster and more affordably.
The company is also working with franchisees to bring the brand to more communities. “We’ve been in a period of hyper-growth, from seven stands to over 340, and in the next few years, we’ll quickly hit over 1,000 stands in the U.S. We actually have agreements with our franchisees to open over 3,000 7 Brews, and we’re looking forward to it. We’re so lucky to have amazing franchisees who are joining us on this journey,” says Chavez.
The Outstanding Operators Program highlights 20 innovative brands taking creative paths to success with all things off-premises. Each winner receives a $1,000 charitable donation to its organization of choice and will be recognized on-stage at the 2025 Food On Demand Conference. Register today!
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