2026 Star Women in Convenience winner: Averil Loong
Averil Loong
Fresh food, QA manager
7-Eleven Canada
How did you get into this business?
I began on the manufacturing side, working across research and development, quality assurance and production. I’ve always been drawn to structured, behind‑the‑scenes environments where strong systems matter. Quality assurance allows me to protect consumers, build trust and coach teams to succeed through practical, well‑applied processes.
What are you most proud of during the last 12-18 months?
To have contributed to the 7‑Eleven Food Centre’s earning SQF Certification and a CFIA Establishment License in 2025. These achievements strengthen our growth while ensuring our stores are supported with safe, reliable and compliant food programs.
What do you like most about your job?
Working directly with people. Seeing those ‘light‑bulb’ moments during coaching discussions and watching individuals grow is incredibly fulfilling.
Biggest career challenge?
Driving change in complex, fast‑paced environments. I learned success comes from clear communication, consistency and helping people understand the ‘why’ behind expectations.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received?
Stay grounded in your principles, especially when decisions are difficult. Doing the right thing consistently builds credibility and long‑term trust.
Career highlight?
Being named the 2025 recipient of the 7‑Eleven Store Support Centre Person of the Year. It was a meaningful honour and validation of the work and collaboration behind the scenes.
What excites you most about the future?
Seeing the convenience channel continue raising its standards. Customers expect cleaner stores, safer environments and consistent experiences and being part of an industry committed to doing things the right way is incredibly motivating.
Nomination highlights
Averil Loong represents the future of quality leadership within the convenience industry. In just four years, she has made a significant impact by elevating food safety, regulatory compliance and product integrity across national food operations. Her leadership in advancing SQF certification, CFIA compliance and scientific shelf-life validation has strengthened product quality, reduced risk and increased consumer confidence in ready-to-eat food programs. She oversees food safety and quality assurance programs, regulatory compliance, audit readiness, incident investigations and continuous improvement initiatives across production facilities. She recently earned recognition as store support person of the year for her leadership in certifying food centres under SQF standards and strengthening HACCP and traceability programs. Her ability to collaborate across operations, production and supply chain teams has helped modernize food safety standards within convenience retail while reinforcing the credibility of fresh food programs across the industry.
Click here for a full list of the 2026 Star Women in Convenience winners
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