030710 7-Eleven Adds “Big Eats Griller” Hot DogJuly 5, 2003Dallas, TX - July is a big month for hot dogs and 7-Eleven, Inc. -- it marks National Hot Dog Month in America, the largest convenience chain's 76th birthday, and the 15th anniversary of 7- Eleven stores' popular all-beef Big Bite hot dog from Oscar Mayer. This summer, the country's number-one retailer of grilled hot dogs is spicing things up a bit with the introduction of Big Eats Griller Sausage with DiGiorno marinara sauce. Suggested retail price is $1.59. The Spicy Italian flavor is the first in a line of Big Eats Griller Sausages developed exclusively for 7-Eleven by Oscar Mayer, complete with sauces and condiments. The specialty sausage market is the fastest-growing segment in supermarkets, led by Italian, Bratwurst, and Kielbasa or Polish sausage. A survey of Major League baseball parks, a bastion of hot dog sales, showed that baseball fans are eating about half as many sausages as hot dogs. Sausage consumption peaks in October (can you say Oktoberfest?), although sales spike in May and July as well. "Consumers are more adventurous and willing to try new tastes and flavors," said Joe Carlton, director of fresh foods at 7-Eleven, Inc. "We have seen that with the tremendous acceptance of our 7-Eleven Go-Go Taquitos Mexican-style snack, which was introduced just a year ago." Carlton said the company hopes to duplicate 7-Eleven Go-Go Taquitos' success with the new Griller Sausages. "Customers are always looking for new items to try, and at 7-Eleven, they can customize their hot dog or sausage anyway they want it." While a new-to-7-Eleven marinara sauce is being introduced for the Spicy Italian Sausage, Carlton said customers can add any of their other favorite 7-Eleven condiments -- mustard, ketchup, queso, chili, onions, relish, peppers, pickles, salsa, pico de gallo -- at no extra charge. While 7-Eleven stores across the country had sold hot dogs since the early 1970s, it wasn't until 1988 that the company introduced its branded Big Bite hot dogs. As part of an exclusive agreement with 7-Eleven, Oscar Mayer, the nation's leading hot dog producer, created a special spice formulation for the all-beef hot dogs available at 7-Eleven stores. Today, 7-Eleven sells 95 million Big Bite hot dogs a year (more fresh- grilled hot dogs than any other retailer). About one-third of those are consumed between Memorial Day and Labor Day -- hot dog-eating summer season. In the 15 years since introducing the Big Bite in 1988, 7-Eleven has sold 1 billion hot dogs. To support the rollout of the new Spicy Italian Sausage, a national TV spot will run this month. The humorous 15-second spot features a man who can't hide his love for 7-Eleven's new Big Eats Griller sausages.
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