7-Eleven has selected 49 up-and-coming brands to join the retailer’s Brands With Heart showcase. The program is designed to give brands an opportunity to enter a new retail channel with the opportunity to see their products on shelves across 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes stores in the United States.

The retailer announced that it was looking for applicants for the fifth annual showcase in July this year. The showcase itself will take place in early November.

"At 7-Eleven, we're proud to be a platform for new and innovative brands to introduce their products to the world," said Adam Franks, director of private and emerging brands at 7-Eleven. "Not only do these products taste great … but they're doing great things, too. We can't wait for our customers to see them on shelves across the country."

All the 49 brands that 7-Eleven selected exhibited purpose-driven elements within their products and business—supporting people, the planet or the communities they serve. As the Brands With Heart program continues to evolve, the company said there will be a greater focus on recognizing standout brands that are striving to make a positive impact in the world.

"We believe our role as a leading retailer goes beyond simply providing innovative products to our customers—it's about making a lasting difference in the communities we serve," said Marissa Jarratt, 7-Eleven executive vice president, chief marketing and sustainability officer. "This year, for the first time ever, every one of our Brands With Heart participants demonstrates a purpose-driven element, bringing us one step closer to achieving this goal. We're excited to welcome these outstanding brands to the 7-Eleven family."

One of this year’s participants is Mezcla, a plant-based snack company. The company is working to curb hunger with its Puff-Crispy protein snack bars and its partnership with The Hunger Project, an organization fighting food insecurity around the world.

Doughp, another participant, is an edible and bakeable cookie dough company that is working to break the stigma around mental health. The company donates a portion of every sale to the SHE RECOVERS Foundation.