Convenience stores are playing an increasingly pivotal role in the evolving foodservice industry, no longer just quick stops for snacks but true destinations for unique and innovative flavors.
Today’s consumers demand bold, memorable tastes, and c-stores are rising to meet this demand by partnering with brands like Mike’s Hot Honey, the original and leading name in hot honey to elevate their offerings without adding operational complexity.
Mike’s Hot Honey is the ideal product for c-stores looking to deliver flavor-forward dishes that meet modern expectations.
“C-stores are upping their culinary game and we want to be a part of this new food experience,” said Mike Kurtz, founder of Mike’s Hot Honey. “Hot honey is a unique and accessible flavor that can satisfy consumer demand for bold tastes with a simple drizzle,” he added.
The 7-Eleven and Mike’s Hot Honey Collaboration: Raising the Flavor Bar
The latest example of this booming trend is the collaboration between Mike’s Hot Honey and 7-Eleven, which is bringing an exclusive lineup of sweet and spicy menu items to its Raise the Roost and Speedy Café locations.
These limited-time offerings highlight the growing importance of c-stores in the food space, showcasing how one bold ingredient can completely transform menu items.
Raise the Roost launched two meal deals that incorporate Mike’s Hot Honey into its popular chicken dishes. The Mike’s Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit Breakfast Meal Deal pairs the signature double hand-breaded chicken tender with a buttery biscuit, all drizzled with the sweet heat of Mike’s Hot Honey.
For lunch and dinner, the Mike’s Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich Meal Deal features the same perfectly cooked tenders on a brioche bun, topped with that unmistakable sweet and spicy hot honey flavor.
At Speedy Café, the focus shifts to a broader set of menu items. Mike’s Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza combines the classic pepperoni pizza with a drizzle of the honey, giving it a bold new twist.
For fans of wings, the Mike’s Hot Honey Boneless Wings offer an exciting new way to enjoy juicy boneless wings with an irresistible balance of sweetness and spice.
“We’re always on the lookout for the next flavor craze that our fans love, and this sweet-and-spicy collab with Mike’s Hot Honey is exactly that,” said William Armstrong, Senior Vice President of Restaurant Operations at 7-Eleven, Inc.
Casey’s and Thornton’s Enhance Menus and Unique Hot Honey Pairings
Another example of Mike’s Hot Honey making waves in the c-store sector is its collaboration with Casey’s, where it adds a perfect finishing touch to their new Jalapeño Popper Pizza. The Jalapeño Popper Pizza starts with a base of Philadelphia Whipped Cream Cheese, followed by a blend of real cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, smoky bacon, and pickled jalapeños.
Once baked to perfection, it’s finished off with a drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey, bringing a unique balance of sweet heat that enhances the smoky and spicy notes of the pizza.
This offering showcases how Mike’s Hot Honey can easily be integrated into complex flavor profiles, making every day menu items more exciting and appealing to consumers who crave bold, adventurous tastes.
Midwestern-based Thornton’s also showed that convenience stores are getting into the hot honey breakfast trend. The 200-store chain recently introduced a Hot Honey Chicken & Waffle Breakfast Sandwich as part of a limited-time menu option.
Bold Flavors for Adventurous Consumers
Limited-time offers like those at 7-Eleven’s Raise the Roost and Speedy Café, as well as Casey’s and Thornton’s reflect the way c-stores are becoming leaders in flavor innovation. C-stores are uniquely positioned to experiment with bold flavors and offer customers a low-commitment way to try something new.
By incorporating Mike’s Hot Honey into popular menu items, these stores are not only staying on-trend but also elevating their reputation as destinations for unique, craveable foods.
These collaborations tap into the broader trend of consumers seeking adventurous and bold flavors, especially among younger generations. Millennials and Gen Z have led the charge, embracing unique flavor combinations like spicy, sweet, and global influences.
Flavor Innovation Without Operational Complexity
One of the reasons Mike’s Hot Honey has become a go-to ingredient for c-stores is its versatility and ease of use. It’s a single ingredient that can instantly elevate the flavor of pizzas, sandwiches, wings, and more—without the need for additional prep time or complicated processes.
This operational simplicity is crucial for c-stores that need to serve food quickly and efficiently, yet still deliver on taste and quality. Mike’s Hot Honey proves that one ingredient can bring an exceptional, memorable flavor experience without creating challenges in the kitchen.
Mike’s Hot Honey also offers extensive support to c-stores, providing marketing support and materials to help businesses promote their hot honey-infused dishes and highlighting LTOs on its popular Instagram account.
As convenience stores continue to expand their foodservice offerings, bold and exciting flavors will be a driving force behind their success and Mike’s Hot Honey is poised to continue playing a leading role in elevating their food offerings.
Mike’s Hot Honey is available through foodservice distributors nationwide. For more information visit Mike’s Hot Honey’s website.
