7‑Eleven® Powers Up its Fresh Foods Menu as First Retailer to Offer Tony Horton Kitchen Foods
Los Angeles, 2014-10-1— /EPR Retail News/ — Tony Horton, the master behind the best-selling fitness program, Beachbody™ P90X®, is a man on the go. So when 7‑Eleven, Inc. approached him about co-developing a line of nutritionally balanced foods and cold-pressed juices for its on-the-go customers, he was all for it.
A lineup of sandwiches, salads, wraps and cold-pressed juices sold under the Tony Horton Kitchen (THK) brand makes its debut this week in 104 select 7‑Eleven® stores in the Los Angeles area, Horton’s home base and training ground. Previously, Tony Horton Kitchen foods have only been available through direct home delivery.
“Tony Horton is one of the biggest names in the world of health and fitness,” said Raja Doddala,7‑Eleven’s senior director of Innovation. “His passion for reaching people and improving their quality of life inspired us at 7‑Eleven to offer our guests fresh, upscale selections. Tony has been super to work with as we developed healthy, great-tasting, on-the-go choices. Besides, the Tony Horton Kitchen brand instantly signals that these will fit into a healthy lifestyle.”
Horton worked directly with 7‑Eleven’s Innovation Team, which spent more than a year creating, testing, tasting and refining the recipes for each exclusive item. The goal was to create foods that were nutritious and delicious … and available at very affordable prices. A 16-ounce bottle of THK cold-pressed juice costs $4.99 at participating stores, and prices range from $4.75 to $6.50 for food items that are found in 7‑Eleven stores’ refrigerated, fresh-foods case.
“I’m absolutely thrilled that Tony Horton Kitchen and the 7‑Eleven Innovation Team came together to create wholesome, delicious, affordable choices,” Horton said. “These salads, sandwiches, wraps and juices are for customers who are looking for healthier options on the go. I truly believe that this joint venture between THK and 7‑Eleven can be a tipping point to improve America’s health.
“My programs like P90X and now P90 are making it easier for folks to get fit,” Horton added. “These healthy THK options at 7‑Eleven stores will fulfill the other crucial piece of the equation, which is healthy food and juices. Exercise is fitness, and nutritious food IS health!”
THK-branded sandwiches, salads and wraps are made with all-natural ingredients by Fresh Grill of Santa Ana, the FDA- and USDA-certified commissary that prepares other fresh foods for Southern California 7‑Eleven stores, and delivered daily to the participating 7‑Eleven stores in this test. With an average calorie count of 360, they include:
Sandwiches
- Grilled Chicken with Blueberry Mustard on whole grain sub
- Stacked Roasted Turkey Breast on whole grain flat bun
- Salads
- Spicy Quinoa Salad with Chimichurri Dressing
- Curried Chicken Salad with Pomegranate Raita Dressing
Wraps
- Golden Roasted Turkey Breast Wrap with Chipotle Black Bean Hummus
- Spicy Black Bean Hummus & Vegetables Wrap
Cold-pressed Juices (They do not have special names; the bottle’s front label lists the top four ingredients.)
- Apple, celery, beet, ginger, parsley, spinach, lemon
- Apple, coconut water, lime, mint
- Celery, apple, cucumber, spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, lime, lemon, wheat grass, clover sprouts
- Carrot, apple, celery, lemon, beet, spinach, lime, parsley, ginger
Cold-pressed, or high-pressure pasteurized (HPP), juices use pressure rather than heat to make the fresh-squeezed juices shelf-stable, then are sealed to preserve freshness and flavor.
“We’ve heard Tony say, ‘exercise is fitness, food is health,’” said Kelly Buckley, 7‑Eleven’s vice president of fresh food and beverage innovation and manufacturing. “We want to provide healthy, convenient food and beverage options, whether that means a high-protein wrap, a cold-pressed juice or a high-fiber fresh salad. The addition of these nutritionally balanced products gives our guests better and more varied choices. By teaming with Tony Horton Kitchen, we want people to think of 7‑Eleven for healthy options when they are on the go.”
About 7‑Eleven, Inc.
7‑Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7‑Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 10,300 7‑Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, there are some 53,500 7‑Eleven stores in 16 countries. During 2013, 7‑Eleven stores generated total worldwide sales close to $84.5 billion. 7‑Eleven has been honored by a number of companies and organizations recently. Accolades include: #2 on Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise Companies for 2013; #3 spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 2012, and #3 in Forbes magazine’s Top 20 Franchises to Start. 7‑Eleven is No. 3 on Fast Company magazine’s 2013 list of the “World’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Retail” and among the Top Veteran-Friendly Companies for 2013 by U.S. Veterans Magazine and on GI Jobs magazine’s Top 100 Military Friendly Employers for 2014. Hispanic Magazine named 7‑Eleven among its Hispanic Corporate Top 100 Companies that provide the most opportunities to Hispanics. 7‑Eleven is franchising its stores in the U.S. and expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program. Find out more online at www.7‑Eleven.com.
Contact:
Margaret Chabris
7‑Eleven, Inc.
972-828-7285
margaret.chabris@7-11.com
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