IRVING, Texas—7-Eleven has introduced a new roller grill item—the Spicy Garlic Chicken Roller, according to a news release. The chicken roller is available for a limited time only in participating 7-Eleven locations.
"At 7-Eleven, we're all about variety. We love coming up with new takes on popular treats that will continue to excite and delight our customers," said Alexis Luewellyn, 7-Eleven senior manager of fresh food. "The new Spicy Garlic Chicken Roller is just the latest addition to our hot food menu, and we think this delicious, craveable option will become a quick fan favorite."
For a limited time, members of 7-Eleven’s rewards program 7Rewards will earn 100 bonus points with each chicken roller purchase. 7-Eleven recently launched the 7NOW Gold Pass for $5.95 a month, and 7Rewards members earn double the rewards when they order delivery using the 7NOW Gold Pass service.
Meanwhile, Coca-Cola and Molson Coors have partnered to create a line of spiked lemonades under Coca-Cola’s Simply brand. Simply Spiked will launch this summer starting with a variety pack, including Signature Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Watermelon Lemonade and Blueberry Lemonade.
Coca-Cola recently announced a partnership with Constellation Brands, the maker of Corona beer brands, to create a spirit-based, ready-to-drink canned cocktail under Coke’s FRESCA brand. FRESCA Mixed is expected to launch this year and will start with cocktails inspired by recipes from people around the world who use FRESCA as a mixer.
The ready-to-drink cocktail space is becoming increasingly crowded, and soda companies are rushing to partner with alcoholic beverage makers. Coca-Cola introduced Topo Chico hard seltzer last year also in partnership with Molson Coors and recently released a new flavor—Ranch Water. PepsiCo will release a hard Mountain Dew this year, partnering with Boston Beer Co., and Anheuser Busch released a line of hard sodas.
Ready-to-drink spirits represented $741 million in U.S. retail-store sales in 2021 through Dec. 25, more than double the sales over the same period a year earlier, according to an analysis of Nielsen data by Bump Williams Consulting.
For more on ready-to-drink cocktails, read the NACS Magazine article “Bottoms Up.”