Concord, NC-based Cardinal said it would assist in bringing 7-Eleven's proprietary consolidated distribution center (CDC) concept -- started in 1994 -- to Southern California. The CDC concept is used as a merchandising tool, enabling participating stores to receive daily deliveries of what the c-store chain calls "freshness-sensitive" products overnight, just before the peak selling period.

Individual stores will place orders for products by 10 a.m. and will receive delivery by 5 a.m. the next day. Cardinal will process the inbound vendor orders through the CDC in Fullerton, explained 7-Eleven. The operation will be phased in from early September through early November.

This contract follows the one awarded to Cardinal last year to provide enhanced delivery services for 627 7-Eleven stores in the Northeast.