7-Eleven uses regional test to gauge new menu items

CHESAPEAKE

Chesapeake and other Hampton Roads cities are testing grounds for 7-Eleven's latest endeavor to offer foods such as pizzas, chicken wings, Jamaican beef patties and cinnamon churros.

Now, 7-Eleven is looking to offer the meals in stores elsewhere. The pilot program is taking place in select stores in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Suffolk, Newport News and across the North Carolina border in Elizabeth City and Kitty Hawk.

"What we learned here in the Tidewater area will be used in the rollout of the new, hot foods programs to other markets across the U.S. later this year," said Phil Bradner, 7-Eleven market manager for 91 stores in southeast Virginia.

The region was selected for the pilot program because many of the stores here already are us ed to working with fresh, hot foods, said Margaret Chabris, a 7-Eleven spokeswoman. 7-Eleven stores in what's known as the Chesapeake Division also sell more grilled and hot dog products than in any other area in the United States, Chabris said.

Prices range from $0.49 for a chicken wing to $9.99 for a whole pepperoni pizza, according to 7-Eleven officials.

7-Eleven Inc., based in Dallas, operates, franchises or licenses more than 7,500 stores in North America and generated more than $46.6 billion in worldwide sales last year.

John Hopkins, (757) 222-5221, john.hopkins@pilotonline.com