More and more stores are stocking the shelves with private label goods. This is especially evident in grocery stores, but it is spreading to convenience stores, as well. 7-Eleven has just introduced its own "Big Gulp" brand of sodas and candy bars, all marketed as "value priced" alternatives to major brands. The soda is sold in 2L bottles and comes in five flavors: cola, root beet, lemon lime, orange and cranberry-raspberry. The first four will clearly compete with national brands, but the cran-raspberry might be positioned to compete with juice drinks, despite the fact that it is carbonated. The chocolate bars will be available in milk chocolate and in dark chocolate with rice crisps. The company is also planning 20-oz bottled drinks and energy/sports drinks in the near future.
One of the selling points for the bottled sodas is that they will be resealable versions of the company's Big Gulp cups, so people will be able to save some of their drink and don't have to drink it right away. The 2L bottles are only slightly larger than the current largest drink size at the store, the 7-Eleven Extreme Gulp, which holds 52-oz of liquid.
Someone on Flickr posted a review of the Big Gulp Cola, noting that it "tastes weak. It's soda for babies."
Chocolate-stuffed bananas on the grill
Tyler Florence welcomes new daughter
Beware kids' menus!
