7-Eleven & Rutter’s Serve Up New Food Items

DALLAS and YORK, Pa. – New meat delicacies have made their way onto the foodservice rosters of two convenience store chains.

Dallas-based 7-Eleven Inc. added kolaches, a savory breakfast favorite of Texans that originated from Czechoslovakia, to its fresh food menu at participating stores in the Lone Star State. Meanwhile, York, Pa.-based Rutter’s Farm Stores added brisket and corned beef sandwich options at its stores across central Pennsylvania.

Similar to "pigs in a blanket," 7-Eleven's kolaches are available in two varieties: Pork and Beef Sausage, and Pork and Beef Sausage with Jalapeno and Cheddar. They are heated and served warm from the hot foods case. Foil packaging ensures the kolaches stay tender and warm.

First available in 50 Texas stores as a test, the kolaches are now available in approximately 450 7-Eleven hot-foods stores in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio areas.

With one of the country's largest Czechoslovakian-American populations, Texas has seen the popularity of the Eastern European pastry grow beyond the central Texas "Czech Belt" communities that introduced them to the state, according to the retailer.  

"Kolaches are so popular in Texas, and this new item gives our customers another portable, hot breakfast choice," said Kelly Buckley, 7-Eleven's vice president of fresh food innovation. "One challenge was to make sure the kolache remains tender. We worked on several iterations to ensure the dough was soft, tender and light."

Across the country at Rutter’s, corned beef and brisket now join pastrami on the chain’s Reuben sandwich lineup. Customers select the meat, cheese and bread to be used on their Reuben from a touchscreen kiosk. Thousand Island dressing and sauerkraut, the staple ingredients of a Reuben, are preselected to make ordering fast and easy.

These two new Reuben varieties are making their debut on Rutter’s menu thanks to some other new menu items: the New Yorker and the BBQ Brisket Sandwich. The New Yorker combines pastrami with corned beef to create a one-of-a-kind flavor. The BBQ Brisket Sandwich teams brisket with Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce. Same as with the Reuben, Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce is preselected on the touchscreen to easily order the BBQ Brisket Sandwich.

All sandwiches on Rutter’s menu can be customized to each customer’s taste by choosing from nine different fresh-baked breads, eight cheeses and a wide selection of fresh toppings.