Going Grande: Mexican Food Spices Up C-Stores

CHICAGO — Sales of Mexican foods in convenience stores totaled more than $17 million in 2020, a rise of 47.7 percent from the previous year, according to data from IRI. Likewise, unit sales grew 35.4% to nearly 7.5 million.

This growth in popularity comes at a time when a Technomic Industry Insights report recently revealed that convenience-store retailers and suppliers are increasing robust flavors to entice customers. Hot, spicy and sour flavors are popular and being widely promoted.

Click through for recent unveilings of Mexican offerings ...

Denver-based Naughty Chile Taqueria, a licensed authentic Mexican food concept for convenience and nontraditional retailers, recently opened its newest kiosk quick-service restaurant (QSR) in a TravelCenters of America location in Huntington, Oregon.

Just before that, Brewer-Hendley-owned Market Express, based in Marshville, N.C., added its fifth Naughty Chile kiosk in its Wesley Chapel, N.C., c-store.

"We knew that a superior foodservice program was going to be vital to our customer base, and Naughty Chile Taqueria's menu fit perfectly," said Deep Singh, owner of the franchised TA location. "Naughty Chile's high-quality Mexican food covers all dayparts, so already we have regulars."

The TA foodservice staff serves made-to-order burritos, tacos, quesadillas and nachos at the Naughty Chile Taqueria. Using its components for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, the menu capitalizes on consumers' increasing demand for fresh, delicious Mexican foods. Foil-wrapped burritos also are served from the hot merchandising unit for quick pickup by travelers on the go.

The new Oregon location fills a 10-year void for the cuisine along I-84 between Bend, Ore., and Ontario, the company said. TA is based in Westlake, Ohio.

Breakfast and lunch quesadillas are on the menu through the end of March at Kwik Chek/TXB c-stores.

Spicewood, Texas-based Kwik Chek, which is in the middle of a rebranding to TXB (Texas Born), is offering chorizo egg and cheese until 10:30 a.m. and buffalo chicken mac and cheese from 10:30 a.m. until close. The pair join the menu alongside the beef fajita quesadilla.

The chorizo egg and cheese quesadilla is made with savory chorizo, eggs and melted cheese and grilled between a buttery tortilla. The buffalo chicken mac and cheese quesadilla comes with spicy, breaded buffalo chicken and mac and cheese.

Kwik Chek last year announced a plan to rebrand all store locations to Texas Born (TXB), with construction on four stores already under way, to emphasize the Texas roots and values upon which the brand was built.

Tres Picosos, Denver, which makes authentic Mexican burritos for c-stores and foodservice operations, has unveiled three new flavors in its grab-and-go lineup.

“Americans’ palates are getting more picoso,” said Jane Hartgrove, Tres Picosos president. “They want hotter, more layered flavors with a bolder taste. Convenience retailers don’t need another burrito; they need a better burrito.”

To develop the three new flavors, Tres Picosos turned to its retail sister company, Naughty Chile Taqueria, which offers a variety of combinations that appeal to Tres Picosos customers’ taste profiles. Tres Picosos half-pound burrito recipes emphasize green chile and salsa verde to appeal to today’s more sophisticated but always hurried c-store shopper.

The three new flavors are: Picadillo Beef, which includes diced potatoes, green chiles and cheddar; Pork Carnitas, which features cilantro lime rice, seasoned pinto beans verde, tomatillo salsa and Monterey Jack cheese; and Western Breakfast, with scrambled eggs, pork sausage, hash browns, green chiles and cheddar.

As part of a new expansion plan in the Sunshine State, Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven brought its Mexican quick-service restaurant (QSR) brand, Laredo Taco Company, to Inverness, Fla., marking the first of 15 Laredo Taco Company QSRs that will open in the state by the end of 2021, 7-Eleven said.

"We think Florida is really going to love our Laredo Taco Company restaurants and its delicious food, all made from scratch, with carnitas being my personal favorite," said Chris Tanco, executive vice president and COO of 7-Eleven. "Whenever we open Laredo Taco Company restaurants, the lines of enthusiastic customers have been out the door."

The QSR offers chorizo, carne asada, carnitas and breakfast tacos and burritos served on handmade tortillas. Like its other locations, this Laredo Taco Company will feature a condiment bar featuring various salsas and pico de gallo, which are currently being served in pre-packed containers for COVID-19 safety.

The final entry is a mashup of a burger and burrito: Thorntons’ BurgerRitos, which have a burger’s ground beef, cheese, bacon and more wrapped as a burrito. BurgerRitos come in three varieties: Cheesy Breakfast, Classic Bacon and Spicy 3 Pepper.

BurgerRitos are suited for on-the-go foodservice occasions and combine Louisville, Ky.-based Thorntons’ strengths with classic, fast-casual dining trends, the company said.

“We’re proud to introduce the BurgerRito to our hotplate lineup,” said Brian Scantland, vice president of fresh food operations for Thorntons. “It’s a unique, delicious and craveable fresh food choice available throughout the day for our on-the-go guests. With this innovative approach, we are able to deliver a variety of hot, hearty and portable products that are high quality and full of value.”