Four-for-$1 Mini Tacos joins 7-Eleven’s food line-up, appealing to the growing number of round-the-clock snackers.
7-Eleven Inc. will spice up its hot foods menu with the addition of Mini Tacos, a tasty south-of-the-border treat for hungry consumers looking for a quick, hot snack. Suggested retail price is just $1 for four Spicy Beef Mini Tacos, building on the convenience retailer’s already strong value line-up.
According to a recent study by The Hartman Group, almost half of all eating occasions in the U.S. occur between meals, while a recent article in Food Technology Magazine estimates that about half the U.S. population snacks at least twice a day, nearly double the number in 2010.
Not only are they snacking between meals, they’re eating more snack foods at meals. Away from home, convenience stores lead the pack as the number-one foodservice establishment selected for all snack meals, leading hamburger, coffee, food/drug, ice cream and doughnut restaurants and retailers.
“Research shows that today’s diners, more now than ever, are choosing to snack their way through the day rather than sit down to three squares,” said Jesús Delgado-Jenkins, 7-Eleven executive vice president for merchandising, marketing and logistics. “Millions of Americans visit our stores each day to grab convenient drinks and eats. We saw a need to add an easy-to-eat, portable snack to our hot foods selection. Pizza and wings are extremely hot-sellers for us, as are Go-Go Taquitos on the grill. We think these mini tacos are going to be another big hit.”
Latin-inspired foods and beverages continue to be favorites of American diners, among them 7-Eleven customers. Studies show that Mexican food continues to score high on “favorite foods” lists, second only to Italian food among ethnic cuisines. The growing Hispanic demographic in the U.S. ensures that trend won’t end any time soon.
From Go-Go Taquitos on the grill to fresh-cut mango, Mexican beers and flavored snack chips that just get hotter and hotter, 7-Eleven’s Latin-inspired food and beverages have multiplied as well. Mini Tacos are the first Mexican-style hot snack the retailer has offered.
The spicy beef filling is made from shredded beef, green chilies, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, spices and other flavorings stuffed into a mini-sized crispy corn tortilla. Prepared to lock in flavor and provide an appetizing crunch, the Mini Tacos are heated in rapid-cook ovens at 7-Eleven stores before served. 7-Eleven plans to add other varieties in the future.
During Mini Taco taste tests held in several 7-Eleven stores, consumer reaction was overwhelmingly positive, according to Kelly Buckley, 7-Eleven’s vice president of fresh food innovation. “Of all the products I’ve sampled with consumers over the years, I don’t think I’ve seen a reaction so unanimously favorable,” she said. “Many bought the product then and there.”
7-Eleven, the largest of the convenience retailers, has no shortage of snack items on its store shelves for hungry customers, whether they are craving something crispy, crunchy, creamy, chunky, savory, spicy, sweet or sour. 7-Eleven introduced its hot foods menu nationally in select stores three years ago with pizza, chicken tenders and chicken wings.
