Image Courtesy of 7-Eleven
February 6, 2025
Will Anything Beat 7-Eleven’s ‘Free Pizza’ Super Bowl Deal?
Standing out among a plethora of food deals arriving ahead of the Super Bowl, 7-Eleven is offering a free pizza with customers’ first order on the 7NOW Delivery app.
7-Eleven is also offering a BOGO deal on Feb. 9, the day of the big game, where customers will get a free pizza with a purchase of another, as well as savings on “watch party favorites” on Feb. 8 and beer on Feb. 9. The “Free Pizza” promotion runs through Mar. 4.
“At 7-Eleven, we know the Big Game is about more than just football — it’s about gathering with friends, enjoying delicious food and making lasting memories,” said Brandon Brown, SVP of fresh foods at 7-Eleven, in a press release. “Whether you’re a football fanatic, a halftime show enthusiast or simply a pizza lover, we’re here to support your game day experience with free pizza and other tasty deals that will make everyone feel like a winner.”
Record Super Bowl Spending Projected
NRF’s 2025 Super Bowl Spending Survey found that a record 203.4 million U.S. adults plan to tune in to the big game, of which 113.7 million plan to throw or attend a party and 17.6 million plan to watch the game at a bar or restaurant.
Total spending on food, drinks, apparel, decorations and other purchases for the day is expected to reach a record $18.6 billion, or $91.58 per person, up from $17.3 billion in 2024. Among the respondents, 81% plan to spend on food and beverages.
Grocer and Restaurant Deals
7-Eleven’s deal will compete with a number of other food deals from both grocers and restaurants.
Among grocers, ALDI partnered with 2010 Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees and his wife, Brittany, on a “Get a Quarterback” campaign offering 25% off wings, spinach dip, pizza, and other snacks and appetizers.
“No matter which team fans root for, we can all agree that food is the MVP of the Big Game,” Dave Rinaldo, COO at ALDI, said in a news release. “We’re showing customers how to feed a crowd without sacrificing time, quality, or their budgets. Year-round, shoppers can fill their carts for less through the many actions we take, from displaying products in the boxes they arrive in, to our quarter cart system. Now we’re taking savings even further by offering up to a quarter back on game day favorites.”
Walmart is also offering a curated game-day basket that feeds up to eight people at about $8 a pop. The meal basket includes a variety of 13 popular snacking items, including chicken wings, meatballs, and Lit’l Smokies.
Kroger is offering a number of “digital deals and hot offers” as part of its “Big Game Saving Blitz” campaign.
“At Kroger, we know the best offense is a good defense, so we are setting customers up for success with a savings blitz that will tackle Big Game watch parties everywhere,” said Mike Murphy, group VP of Center Store Merchandising, in a press release. “With hot savings on soft drinks, salty snacks, appetizers and more, fans won’t need to call any audibles on game day.”
Among other deals:
- Hooters during the NFL’s playoff run is promoting a Post-Season Pick for dine-in customers: 10 wings any style, curly fries, and a Pepsi or Bud Light for $16.99. The deal ends on Super Bowl Sunday.
- Applebee’s is offering a plate of 20 free Boneless Wings for fans with an online purchase of at least $40 or more, only available on Super Bowl Sunday.
- Buffalo Wild Wings is again offering free chicken wings to Americans if the Super Bowl goes into overtime.
- Auntie Anne’s on Super Bowl Sunday is offering a $5-off coupon to rewards members purchasing one of its signature Football Buckets, which feature a cardboard field goal post and a center divider for two distinct pretzel bite flavors.
- Chipotle is offering rewards members free Guac and Queso Blanco on Monday, Feb. 10.
Other restaurants and local grocers are expected to also again be offering game-day deals. Food spending around the Super Bowl remains far below Thanksgiving, which is believed to be the biggest food holiday on retail’s calendar.
However, the event largely matches the average of $90.42 spent on food items last year on the Fourth of July, according to NRF data.
Discussion Questions
What opportunities does the Super Bowl offer for grocers and food establishments that’s a step above other food-centric holidays, such as Thanksgiving and Fourth of July?
What’s your favorite type of food deal around the Super Bowl?
Poll
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Shep Hyken
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The Super Bowl is a huge food occasion. It’s important to merchandise for it in store and have deals and offer. As we saw over the course of last year, consumers are very willing to splash out for occasions, but they are laser like focused on price and value. While there are opportunities for foodservice, this is a very big in-home eating opportunity that is very focused on snacks and beverages.
I applaud 7-Eleven for trying to capitalize on Super Bowl Sunday with the pizza promotion, and I give them an “E” for effort, but I am not sure if they will make inroads against all the other more “intuitive” delivery options.
Despite 7-Eleven’s good pizza, I am not sure that enough consumers are aware of its “competitive quality.” All advertising should emphasize the quality of their pizza, with appealing details and customer testimonials.
Unlike days of the distant pass, pizza has a short shelf-life after it is purchased, and almost no one will make a trip to the store to purchase pizza during or before the game. Deliveries are essential. 7-Eleven is covered by the majority of delivery companies.
The delivery service’s ordering page, however, presents 7-Eleven with tremendous competition.
To summarize, I am pleased with the initiative, and I hope 7-Eleven is rewarded for its efforts.
Having worked in the concenience store industry, I know how much effort these retailers put into making tasty pizzas. You can’t beat the 7-11 free pizza deal, it’s a win-win for the company too because to get a pizza you have to download the app. Walmart’s “curated game-day basket that feeds up to eight people at about $8 a pop” sounded good at eight bucks, not so much at $64.
I’ll save a lot on cheese again this year since the Packers aren’t in the big game, but I’ll be there for the commercials. Crossing my fingers RetailWire does Super Bowl Commercial Challenge next week!
Super Bowl parties are a ready-made occasion to splurge on beverages, food, and snacks, with home delivery topping off the list of value and convenience. For 7-Eleven, the company is set to increase its 7NOW delivery app users (and the associated customer data) while promoting free trials of their pizza. While many football fans will utilize a combination of delivery and store-bought foods for the occasion, they will be happy with the free pizza if it arrives hot and on time. For 7-Eleven, the company will measure success by the number of downloads, new users, and new profiles added to its customer database.
For over 50 years, the Super Bowl has been the largest home entertainment event of the year. ‘nough said.
The Super Bowl is a great event for CPG companies, grocers and restaurants to promote food and beverage items as 113.7 million plan to throw or attend a party. I like 7-Eleven’s strategy of promoting their 7NOW delivery app as part of the free pizza offer. It is a great way to increase the number of consumers with the app on their phone and once they try it, they might like it!
A lot of consumers want to have several different Super Bowl treats (wings! pizza! nachos! dip!) so that gives grocers a big advantage.
I think that makes 7-Eleven the perfect answer, particularly for those leaning to more snacks than entrees.
While not the specific question, I think the 7-Eleven is worth talking about. First, I like it. Anytime there’s a new technology you want customers to use, such as an app, give customers an incentive to use it. 7-Eleven has some competition on this one, so for the promotion to be more than people taking advantage of a free pizza, the experience of using the app (and the pizza) better be so good it gets the customer to come back.
This article makes me hungry. As a celebration of friends, family and watch parties, the Super Bowl creates a more jovial and informal atmosphere than Thanksgiving feasts. Limited-time offers for fun food categories make entertaining stress-free and affordable, so sports fans can focus on enjoying the big game.
My first thought to the question in the headline was that the one thing that will beat 7-Eleven’s Free Pizza Deal is if 7-Eleven pays me to eat their free pizza (not pay me “pizza” to download their app).
And then I asked myself why that was my first thought. Two reasons: (1) when I think of the Super Bowl and pizza I don’t think of 7 Eleven (2) 7-Eleven is not in my “top of mind” for quality food especially if I’m hosting a Super Bowl party.
So, if I’m the target market and I’m not the only one in that target market that feels as I do, then 7-Eleven first needs to convince me that it’s got Super Bowl level skills! Otherwise, it’s Pee Wee time for them!
The free pizza idea is cool and 7-Eleven is an iconic brand. I hope it works for them; I just don’t want to download an app to get it so I’m ordering my pizza from .
7-Eleven is taking advantage of a great American tradition, using the Super Bowl as an excuse to “eat, drink, and be merry”, along with watching commercials more than the game itself. Most everyone watching the Super Bowl, whether individually or as part of a larger group or party, is looking for ideas and deals on food and beverage. 7-Eleven is perfectly positioned in their markets to be the one-stop shop for food, snacks, beverages or all sorts, and even the plates, napkins, and utensils needed. And, if the pizza delivers value (quality for price), they could create a step function for future pizza demand! It will be interesting to see how others respond, including Wawa, Sheetz, Dominos, Papa John’s, and more. Oh, and Go Andy Reid and The Chiefs!
i don’t know if 7-11 pizza is a thing. If I wanted on at the point-of-purchase, do I get one then or is it only for delivery?
Grocers should be able to capture a nice share of the sales upside if they are merchandised well, show customers exactly what to buy, cook or reheat, and show customers some deals. By providing offerings customers can quickly prepare or heat, they aren’t stuck in the kitchen missing commercials, or time with their guests.