Monday, Sep 11, 2017

Dinner* is Served

(*and breakfast and lunch)

IRVING, TEXAS (Sept. 11, 2017) – As more Americans turn to at-home recipe kits and  restaurants’ prepared foods to go, 7‑Eleven, Inc. is turning up the heat on its prepared-food program with 15 new locally made, chef-inspired, heat-and-eat meals. These convenient restaurant-quality meal solutions were created with inspiration from Italian, homestyle, Asian, and Mexican recipes.

To find the entrees at participating North Texas 7‑Eleven^® stores, customers need look no further than a life-size cardboard cutout of Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott, who says he is “pumped” about the new locally made meals in radio spots running on digital stations. For a limited time, coupons for a free locally made meal will be available on the 7‑Eleven website and through digital advertising on Facebook, YouTube, TubeMogul, Pandora and TuneIn.

Prepared in local kitchens and delivered daily to participating 7‑Eleven stores in select markets, these on-the-go options for breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available in the refrigerated case beginning Sept. 11. Meals can be heated at the store for immediate consumption or taken to-go. Suggested retail price ranges from $3.99 to $4.99.

Here is what’s new on the 7‑Eleven menu (selections and prices may vary by store):

Italian:

• Chicken Parmesan – Signature breaded chicken filet on a bed of penne pasta, topped with California marinara and aged Parmesan cheese.
• Creamy Chicken Alfredo – Grilled white meat chicken, with creamy Alfredo sauce and parmesan cheese served over penne pasta.
• Cheesy Tortellini – Four-cheese tortellini topped with creamy Alfredo sauce and aged parmesan cheese.
• Cheese Lasagna with Meat Sauce – Hand-rolled pasta filled with ricotta and mozzarella cheeses, traditional Italian-style meat sauce and a blend of Italian-style cheeses.
• Spaghetti Bolognese – Spaghetti noodles topped with an authentic Italian-style seasoned meat sauce and shredded parmesan cheese.

Homestyle:

• Macaroni and Cheese – Cavatappi noodles coated in a blend of five cream cheeses and topped with cheddar cheese and seasoned breadcrumbs.
• Homestyle Turkey Chili – Homestyle chili made from ground turkey, black beans, ripe tomatoes, red bell peppers, onions and celery in an ancho chile pepper puree.

Asian:

• Asian-style Beef and Broccoli Bowl – Premium steak cuts on a bed of long grain white rice, served with broccoli, roasted red peppers and a teriyaki glaze.

Mexican:

• Beef Enchiladas with Rice – Traditional hand-rolled enchiladas, filled with slow-simmered crumbled beef, smothered in a rich pasilla guajillo pepper sauce and topped with a blend of Mexican cheeses.
• Chipotle Chicken Bowl – Shredded chicken seasoned with crushed tomatoes and onions, served with rice, vegetables and ranchero beans, and topped with cheddar cheese.
• Deluxe Verde Chicken Enchiladas with Rice – Hand-rolled enchiladas, stuffed with poblano pepper-seasoned shredded chicken, covered with spicy tomatillo sauce and finished with authentic queso fresco cheese.

Breakfast Bowls (launching Sept. 25):

• Chipotle Steak and Egg Bowl – Roasted potatoes topped with poblano queso sauce, scrambled eggs, chipotle-seasoned beef, fire-roasted peppers and onions, and shredded cheddar cheese.
• Mile High Breakfast Bowl – Roasted potatoes topped with poblano queso sauce, scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage crumble, diced ham, fire-roasted peppers and onions, and shredded cheddar cheese.
• Early Riser Scrambler Bowl – Rice topped with turkey chili, scrambled eggs, shredded cheddar cheese and pico de gallo.

“With these chef-inspired entrees, 7‑Eleven can provide busy individuals and families with a delicious, premium-quality, whole-meal solution in one stop,” said Kelly Buckley, 7‑Eleven vice president of fresh food innovation. “You can add a salad, beverage and dessert. The creamy mac and cheese is particularly kid-friendly and pairs well with chicken tenders and a cup of fresh-cut fruit. We want to take the hassle out of meal time with a variety of options and without giving up quality. There is something for everyone.”

When developing new recipes for its fresh-foods menu, 7‑Eleven benchmarks the ingredients and flavor profiles against restaurant-quality offerings. The new entrees and bowls are prepared in local kitchens using premium-quality ingredients and delivered daily to stores.

According to an NPD Study, almost two-thirds of consumers surveyed said they buy premade meals at least once a week. That’s the same number of people who say they plan dinner within an hour of eating. 7‑Eleven offers a convenient solution to that dilemma. The locally made meals add to 7‑Eleven’s growing prepared-food offerings, which now stand at more than 300 items.

In addition to the locally made meals, 7‑Eleven stores’ growing menu includes grab-and-go cheeseburgers and breaded-chicken sandwiches, pizza slices and whole pizzas, chicken tenders and wings. Hungry customers can create a high-quality, custom meal of their favorite foods by adding fresh-cut fruit, chip-and-dip combos, salads and hundreds of beverage choices rather than settling for the cookie-cutter fries-and-drink combo offered by most fast-food restaurants.

“Dining occasions are evolving from traditional meals and mealtimes,” Buckley said. “Younger demographic groups, in particular, are constantly snacking throughout the day vs. eating three traditional meals. As a 24-hour operator, 7‑Eleven has a wide variety of hot and fresh foods that can be purchased and eaten any time.” 

Buckley and the 7‑Eleven fresh-food-innovation team has responded to these changes with a menu that appeals to round-the-clock dining needs. In addition to great taste, high quality and value, special emphasis is put on portability, as well as fresh and healthy options.

 “7‑Eleven has always been a hot spot for snacks and drinks,” Buckley said. “Now, whatever you’re craving for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack, 7‑Eleven has it. If someone wants a breakfast bowl for dinner, we’ve got it. If you want pizza and fruit or a burger and a protein snack pack, you don’t have to go to two places to get it. Hearty, healthy, heavy or light – our mission is to have a selection of delicious foods at all hours of the day.”

For more information on locally made meals at 7‑Eleven, visit https://www.7‑Eleven.com/eat-drink/locally-made-meals. 

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