USA Today reports that convenience store chain 7-Eleven "today will roll out a test in Southern California with an eye on changing that. Some 104 stores in the Los Angeles market will begin to sell a line of what the chain calls 'nutritionally balanced' fresh sandwiches, wraps and salads — and even cold-pressed juices — under the banner of fitness guru Tony Horton Kitchen." Horton, the story notes, "is the health and fitness executive whose DVD home workout series P90X has sold more than 4 million copies. More recently, he's delved into better-for-you foods."
The story goes on: "For 7-Eleven, it's not about getting rid of other stuff in order to sell better-for-you items. It's about offering both. It still will sell beer and cigarettes and Twinkies and hot dogs, but as Millennials and other core customers demand more better-for-you offerings, the chain is eager to expand its lineup of fresh foods and drinks. Health and wellness, after all, is a $50 billion category in the U.S., and growing."
The story goes on: "For 7-Eleven, it's not about getting rid of other stuff in order to sell better-for-you items. It's about offering both. It still will sell beer and cigarettes and Twinkies and hot dogs, but as Millennials and other core customers demand more better-for-you offerings, the chain is eager to expand its lineup of fresh foods and drinks. Health and wellness, after all, is a $50 billion category in the U.S., and growing."
- KC's View:
-
I've never heard of Tony Horton. When I first saw the name, I thought of Tony Robbins, and I wondered why the self-styled life coach was getting into the food business. And then I thought it was Tim Horton's, and wondered when doughnuts got to be nutritionally balanced…
I guess I was wrong. Though the story raises an interesting point - that just being a fitness guru doesn't necessarily make you a nutritional expert. Horton might just be a guy with a good publicist.
Still, there are some numbers in this story that I found interesting.
For example, that "at 7-Eleven sales of fresh products are up 30% over the past year." That "healthy food options are the second-most requested items from 7-Eleven customers across all social media, the Internet and toll-free phone calls to the company."
And the topper - that "7-Eleven sells seven times more bananas than it sells Snickers."
If this is true, what took 7-Eleven so long to see the writing on the wall?
