PepsiCo and 7-Eleven launch Doritos Loaded, a new triangle-shaped snack filled with melted cheese, and Mtn Dew Solar Flare, the first Mountain Dew flavor for 7-Eleven's Big Gulp drinks; both products are only available at 7-Eleven stores

Jennifer Nguyen

DALLAS , July 2, 2014 (press release) – 7-Eleven, Inc. and PepsiCo today announced the national launch of two complementary food and beverage product innovations for 7-Eleven customers this summer.

The two companies are launching Doritos Loaded, a bold, new snack sensation, and Mtn Dew Solar Flare, the first-ever exclusive Mountain Dew flavor for 7-Eleven's Big Gulp® fountain drinks. The products, currently available only at 7-Eleven stores, were developed to be easily paired and will be launched with an integrated marketing and consumer-engagement program.

Doritos Loaded is a new snack, triangular in shape, loaded with melted cheese and encrusted with bold Doritos Nacho Cheese flavor. The melted-on-the-inside, crunchy-on-the-outside, nacho cheese creation is a portable, easy-to-eat hot snack. Doritos Loaded costs $1.99 for a box of four and is served warm.

Doritos Loaded can easily be paired with Mtn Dew® Solar Flare, which started to roll out in May. The beverage has the bold citrus flavor of Mountain Dew with a blast of tropical punch.

In addition to Mtn Dew Solar Flare, 7-Eleven also will pair Doritos Loaded with other PepsiCo beverages this summer to bring special offers to consumers. As part of its Doritos Loaded summer rollout, 7-Eleven will host five "Fully Loaded Fridays." Each Friday between July 25 and Aug. 22, customers who purchase an order of Doritos Loaded will receive a free 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi-Cola Made With Real Sugar®.

Doritos Loaded was tested earlier this year in a few Washington, D.C.-area 7-Eleven stores. People who discovered the new snack posted photos and mini-reviews describing the product as "inside-out nachos" and "Nacho Cheese Doritos dipped in queso." These unofficial reviews landed on news websites, blogs, Facebook and Twitter, months before the product's launch today, and created demand for the product.

"Doritos Loaded is a never-been-done-before, bold experience with a crunch and, particularly when paired with the intense flavor of Mtn Dew Solar Flare, creates the kind of snack I think our guests will love," said Nancy Smith, 7-Eleven senior vice president of fresh foods and proprietary beverages. "Today, we are bringing these exclusive products to the rest of the country."

"Doritos Loaded and Mtn Dew Solar Flare represent one of the boldest on-the-go snacking and beverage combinations to hit the marketplace in years," said Kirk Tanner, president, PepsiCo Foodservice. "7-Eleven stores are a fixture in the daily lives of millions of our consumers, as are Doritos and Mountain Dew. We look forward to bringing these two great, new products to life in 7-Eleven stores across the country this summer."

"PepsiCo is a terrific 7-Eleven partner that's consistently bringing delicious, new food and beverage offerings to our stores," said Smith. "We're always looking to enhance the consumer experience and offer innovative products for our guests. This launch is the perfect example of how we're bringing two complementary brands together in a really powerful way."

McCain Foods, USA, a leading supplier of innovative snack food and potato products for the foodservice industry, is manufacturing Doritos Loaded. Doritos is a trademark of Frito-Lay North America. PepsiCo is the parent company of Frito-Lay, which created and markets Doritos brand tortilla chips. Mountain Dew is a product of PepsiCo Americas Beverages and is the No.-1 flavored carbonated soft drink in the U.S.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 10,300 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, there are some 53,100 7-Eleven stores in 16 countries. During 2013, 7-Eleven stores generated total worldwide sales close to $84.5 billion. 7-Eleven has been honored by a number of companies and organizations recently. Accolades include: #2 on Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise Companies for 2013; #3 spot on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list for 2012, and #3 in Forbes magazine's Top 20 Franchises to Start. 7-Eleven is No. 3 on Fast Company magazine's 2013 list of the "World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Retail" and among the Top Veteran-Friendly Companies for 2013 by U.S. Veterans Magazine and on GI Jobs magazine's Top 100 Military Friendly Employers for 2014. Hispanic Magazine named 7-Eleven among its Hispanic Corporate Top 100 Companies that provide the most opportunities to Hispanics. 7-Eleven is franchising its stores in the U.S. and expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $66 billion in net revenue in 2013, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our goal to deliver top-tier financial performance while creating sustainable growth in shareholder value. In practice, Performance with Purpose means providing a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; finding innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment and reduce our operating costs; providing a safe and inclusive workplace for our employees globally; and respecting, supporting and investing in the local communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

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