Inside 7 Brew’s Record-Breaking Expansion Year
HOSPITALITY
Drive-thru beverage brand closes a remarkable year of growth with new stands, strategic C-suite additions, new stand formats and record-setting traffic.
Within the fast-paced realm of quick-service beverages, few brands are moving as fast, or with as much "kindness", as 7 Brew Coffee. The drive-thru powerhouse officially closed out 2025 by celebrating a massive milestone: the opening of its 600th location.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the velocity of the growth. 7 Brew began the year with 321 stands; by opening over 280 new locations in just twelve months, the brand nearly doubled its physical footprint across the U.S.
A Culture-First Growth Engine
While 7 Brew is known for its high-energy music and 20,000+ possible drink combinations, the leadership team attributes their success to a "people-first" philosophy.
“This has been a monumental year of growth, and it’s a true testament to the one-of-a-kind experience our customers love,” said Chris Dawson, President of 7 Brew. “As we expand, we remain committed to operational excellence and organizational strength.”
Strategic Innovation: The Walk-Thru Pivot
2025 wasn't just about more drive-thru stands; it was about testing the limits of the 7 Brew model. This spring, the brand unveiled its first walk-thru location inside a Walmart Supercenter in Arkansas.
They followed that up with a college-town debut at The Ohio State University, proving that the 7 Brew "vibe" translates just as well to foot traffic as it does to car windows. These new formats are allowing franchisees to enter dense urban and retail environments that were previously inaccessible to the traditional stand model.
Strengthening the Leadership "Blend"
To support this rapid scaling, 7 Brew fortified its C-suite with three heavy-hitting executive hires this year:
Stephanie Quillen as Chief People Officer
Chris Held as Chief Supply Chain Officer
Matt Dunnigan as Chief Financial Officer
These additions signal that 7 Brew is preparing for even more aggressive expansion in 2026, focusing on supply chain consistency and financial discipline to match their high-speed operational model.
Cultivating Kindness Beyond the Cup
The year also saw record-breaking sales during the brand's iconic "7 Days of 7 Brew" promotion in December, which became the most successful 7-day period in the company’s history.
But perhaps the most meaningful moment of the year was the naming of Stephanie Brown as the "7 Brew Hero of the Year." Brown, who runs a club for adults with special needs in Georgia, was awarded $10,000 as part of the brand’s mission to make the world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.
As 7 Brew looks toward 2026, the goal is clear: more markets, more formats, and a continued commitment to being the "kindest" energy boost on the block.