7-Eleven Meets the Needs of Better-for-You Snack Seekers

DALLAS – 7-Eleven Inc. is offering multiple options for healthy snackers with its introduction of a new selection of gourmet, organic and better-for-you snacks that includes dry roasted edamame, organic trail mix, veggie chips and premium nut blends.

The new assortment is displayed together at participating 7-Eleven stores and includes 7-Select private label products, along with nationally branded, upscale snacks -- some of which are making their convenience store debut, the company said. The snacks are available in single-serve and shareable portions, priced competitively in comparison to other retailers at $1.49 to $4.99.

"Better-for-you is one of the fastest-growing segments of the snacking category," said Rebecca Frechette, a 7-Eleven vice president of merchandising. "People are snacking throughout the day, and they're looking for ways to improve what they eat without sacrificing taste. Our selection includes our own 7-Select line of trail mixes and snacks alongside top-shelf and gourmet brands that you might not expect to find in a convenience store."

The centerpiece of the new snack selection is a collection of 13 bulk-type 7-Select snacks. Flavored trail mixes, nuts, dried fruits and veggie chips are packaged in clear, plastic containers with minimal labeling that allow the contents to be easily seen.

"Our goal is to provide great-tasting, healthy food options at an outstanding, everyday value to our guests," added Frechette. "These are still tough economic times, and we are passionate about providing our guests with a broad assortment at great prices."

The lineup of 7-Select snacks, sold mostly in 7-ounce containers that contain multiple servings and are priced from $2.49 to $3.99, includes:

• Raisin & Nut Trail Mix – raisins, peanuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews and pepitas.
   
• Santa Fe-Style Trail Mix – peanuts, roasted corn, chili crackers, sesame sticks, chili lemon sticks and pepitas.
   
• Organic Nature's Trail Mix – pepitas, soy nuts, sunflower seeds, cranberries, dates and raisins.
   
• Tropical Trail Mix – dates, raisins, dried pineapple, banana chips, dried papaya and coconut. 
   
• Berry Trail Mix – peanuts, dried cranberries, raisins, golden raisins, almonds and walnuts.
   
• Veggie Chips – yellow and purple sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, taro and green beans.
   
• Dried Fruit Blend – apricots, mango, kiwi, pineapple, cherries and apples.
   
• Chocolate Nut Mix – peanuts, raisins, chocolate candy pieces, golden raisins and cashews. 
   
• Raw Almonds – whole natural almonds.
   
• Banana Chips – crispy dried bananas.
   
• Yogurt-Covered Pretzels – pretzels in a yogurt coating. 
   
• Chocolate Pretzels – pretzels in a chocolate coating.

Name brands making their c-store debut are Skinny Pop All-Natural Popcorn, Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame and Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps.

The lineup of name brands included in the new snack selection are:

• Sahale Snacks – Honey Almond, Pomegranate Pistachio, Maple Pecan, and Cashew with Vanilla gourmet nut mixes.
   
• Terra Exotic Vegetable Chips – Original flavor (sweet potato, parsnip, batata, taro and yucca).
   
• Pretzel Crisps – Original, Buffalo, Jalapeno flavors.
   
• Stacy's Pita Chips – Simply Naked, Cinnamon Sugar and Parmesan Garlic flavors.
   
• Stacy's C'est La Cheese Flavored Pita Crisps
   
• Skinny Pop All-Natural Low-Calorie Popcorn
   
• Popcorn, Indiana – Movie theater popcorn in microwaveable "Warm Your Corn" packaging and Kettle Korn.
   
• Seapoint Farms Dry Roasted Edamame
   
• Harvest Snaps Snapea Original Green Pea Crisps

"Our goal was to create a selection of great-tasting, upscale snacks while still providing our guests with value," Frechette said. "Our prices are comparable to those found at other retail channels, like supermarkets and discount mass-merchandise stores. I think people will be pleasantly surprised not only by the selection and quality of the snacks we are adding, but also the value we offer."

Prior to the national rollout, 7-Eleven tested dozens of snack items in a select group of stores in business centers and residential neighborhoods with differing demographics and traffic patterns. The offer was popular across all segments, and the final product mix was narrowed to reflect test stores' top-sellers, the company said.

"Many of our customers want to indulge without feeling guilty when they grab a snack," Frechette said. "Or they want a healthier choice without giving up taste. These new snacks provide the best of both worlds."