Jubenhimer
Member
Convenience stores. The bastard love child of a grocery market and a fast food restaurant frequented by many a hungry folk who want something to eat, but don't have time to sit down, or too tired/lazy to cook. These stores sell a wide range of stuff, primarily food, with many also doubling as gas stations.
The biggest in this somewhat overlooked genre of the food service industry, at least on a national/global level, is 7-Eleven.
7-Eleven (which strangely is owned by a Japanese Conglomerate called 7 & i Holdings) is the name everybody thinks of when it comes to the convenience store. The chain's menu features a range of food market staples. Chips, Cookies, Ice Cream, Drinks, etc. As well as a selection of ready made cooked food such as Pizza and Taquitos, and non-food products like cigarettes and lighters. The most iconic food product on 7-Eleven's menu though, is the Slurpee, everybody's favorite frozen carbonated diabetes bomb. With self-serve machines, and 7 flavors to choose from at a time, getting a Slurpee is the main reason most people stop at 7-Eleven to begin with. Best of all, a small Slurpee is often on sale for just a dollar.
Unfortunately the thing that kills 7-Eleven's food, for me at least, is the fact that almost none of it is made-to-order. With maybe one or two exceptions, nearly every food item at 7-Eleven for sale is either pre-packaged, self-serve, or has been sitting on a hot plate/roller for far too long. The Entree options are limited, and sometimes gross looking (Looking at the Wings mainly), and the stuff that isn't gross is only okay at best. If your goal is to get some chips or donuts, grab some coffee, and maybe pick up a Slurpee or two, 7-Eleven isn't a bad option. It's just not the best place to go if you're looking to pick up lunch.
Those who live on the East Coast like I do however, fortunately have a much better alternative in Wawa.
With only 800 stores, the majority of them at mentioned, being in the East Coast states, and no global presence to speak of, Wawa is a much smaller name in the field compared to 7-Eleven. Still, Wawa has gained a following as a sort of tourist attraction for those visiting the East, and its easy to see why. Like other convenience stores, Wawa features a selection of pre-packaged foods and self serve drinks, along with other essentials such as the staple gas station at select locations.
The difference, is that Wawa has a much larger menu than 7-Eleven. With a large portion of it, being made-to-order offerings, including its famous Subs (or Hoggies as they call them). Simply head to a touch screen kiosk, select what you want, and your food is ready within a couple minutes at most. The customization options for its made-to-order items are extensive, and in addition to sandwiches, there's also a selection of Burgers, sides, and a dizzying array of made-to-order drinks. And that's on top of its pre-made and self-serve offerings too. Wawa may not have a first-party item as iconic as 7-Eleven's Slurpee, but it makes up for it with its sheer variety. The food is pretty good too, my only real complaint is that their self-serve Ice Coffee tastes like ass compared to their MTO options.
But, there are also other options for those who don't live on the East as well. So I guess this is more of a question of, would you rather go to 7-Eleven and get some quick food, or literally any other convenience store?
The biggest in this somewhat overlooked genre of the food service industry, at least on a national/global level, is 7-Eleven.
7-Eleven (which strangely is owned by a Japanese Conglomerate called 7 & i Holdings) is the name everybody thinks of when it comes to the convenience store. The chain's menu features a range of food market staples. Chips, Cookies, Ice Cream, Drinks, etc. As well as a selection of ready made cooked food such as Pizza and Taquitos, and non-food products like cigarettes and lighters. The most iconic food product on 7-Eleven's menu though, is the Slurpee, everybody's favorite frozen carbonated diabetes bomb. With self-serve machines, and 7 flavors to choose from at a time, getting a Slurpee is the main reason most people stop at 7-Eleven to begin with. Best of all, a small Slurpee is often on sale for just a dollar.
Unfortunately the thing that kills 7-Eleven's food, for me at least, is the fact that almost none of it is made-to-order. With maybe one or two exceptions, nearly every food item at 7-Eleven for sale is either pre-packaged, self-serve, or has been sitting on a hot plate/roller for far too long. The Entree options are limited, and sometimes gross looking (Looking at the Wings mainly), and the stuff that isn't gross is only okay at best. If your goal is to get some chips or donuts, grab some coffee, and maybe pick up a Slurpee or two, 7-Eleven isn't a bad option. It's just not the best place to go if you're looking to pick up lunch.
Those who live on the East Coast like I do however, fortunately have a much better alternative in Wawa.
With only 800 stores, the majority of them at mentioned, being in the East Coast states, and no global presence to speak of, Wawa is a much smaller name in the field compared to 7-Eleven. Still, Wawa has gained a following as a sort of tourist attraction for those visiting the East, and its easy to see why. Like other convenience stores, Wawa features a selection of pre-packaged foods and self serve drinks, along with other essentials such as the staple gas station at select locations.
The difference, is that Wawa has a much larger menu than 7-Eleven. With a large portion of it, being made-to-order offerings, including its famous Subs (or Hoggies as they call them). Simply head to a touch screen kiosk, select what you want, and your food is ready within a couple minutes at most. The customization options for its made-to-order items are extensive, and in addition to sandwiches, there's also a selection of Burgers, sides, and a dizzying array of made-to-order drinks. And that's on top of its pre-made and self-serve offerings too. Wawa may not have a first-party item as iconic as 7-Eleven's Slurpee, but it makes up for it with its sheer variety. The food is pretty good too, my only real complaint is that their self-serve Ice Coffee tastes like ass compared to their MTO options.
But, there are also other options for those who don't live on the East as well. So I guess this is more of a question of, would you rather go to 7-Eleven and get some quick food, or literally any other convenience store?
Last edited:
