7-Eleven to debut Mini Tacos to appeal to Latinos and snackers

Snacking is about to get a bit more picante. Convenience retail giant 7-Eleven Inc. added Mini Tacos to its vast inventory of items to munch on to appeal to the growing Latino population and the grazers who snack all day.

More than 500 of the chain’s Southland stores will feature the diminutive snacks, selling four for $1, which add to the growing trend of Latin-inspired foods, said Margaret Chabris, director of corporate communications for 7-Eleven.

“We’ve been in the fresh and hot food business for several years, and we’ve learned that there is a trend towards snacking, up to six to eight times a day,” Chabris said.

Nearly half of the population snacks at least twice a day, according to a report by Food Technology magazine, published by the Institute of Food Technologists.

Ethnic street-food-inspired appetizers, such as tacos, topped the magazine’s list of trendy appetizers in 2012.

The new menu item consists of petite corn tortillas filled with a shredded beef filling, green chilies, jalapeno peppers, cilantro, spices and other flavorings heated in rapid-cook ovens at the stores. Other varieties are in the works.

”The Hispanic population is booming and Hispanic food crosses all ethnic lines,” Chabris said.

The convenience store chain might be on to something. The thought of tortilla shells stuffed with seasoned meat and veggies even got people on the farthest ends of the earth salivating.

Case in point: the 6,200 townspeople of Bethel, Alaska, were in a tizzy after rumors of Taco Bell’s arrival were revealed to be a hoax.

The Mexican food chain later sent the town a consolation gift in the form of a taco truck carrying enough ingredients to make 10,000 Doritos Locos Tacos.

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