In fact, when looking online, one can barely find evidence that such cheap jerky existed at 7-11. Only outdated and cached sites now exist, showing the mysterious disappearing act that 7-11 has played with its own brand of beef jerky.
Here are the three sites that have the evidence:
7-Select Beef Jerky - Original ~ Beef Jerky Reviews "Apr 1, 2009 - This beef jerky is among the new entries into the 7-Select brand. ... 7-Eleven sells this original variety at a price of $4.99 for a 3.25oz bag."
7-Select Beef Jerky - Original
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
"Jerky Jam" http://jerkyjam.blogspot.com/
7-11 Select Beef Jerky ($4.99 Per 3.25 OZ)
7-11 has repackaged its beef jerky into smaller sizes, less than 3 oz. for the traditional and original flavored beef jerky and has an even smaller bag for customers to buy. The difference? The price is more expensive ($5.99 in CA).
7-11 stands to gain a lot of money for this ruse they're pulling on loyal customers who must dig deeper into their pockets to shell out the extra money for such luxury goods as beef jerky.
This may not seem like a big deal for those who can shop at Costco or the big super marts in suburbia but for those city dwellers living on a shoe-string budget--whose only diet is a convenience store when you have no fridge, stove or microwave--it's a heck of a sticker shock.
However, such sleight-of-hand tactics only make customers want to shop elsewhere and though 7-11 boasts:
"Our stores sell more cold beer, cold single-serve bottled water, cold Gatorade and fresh-grilled hot dogs than any other U.S. retailer." -- 7-11 Corporate Site http://corp.7-eleven.com/aboutus/funfacts/tabid/77/default.aspxthey are not the only convenience store around.
Familiarity of products, supply and ease of buying makes 7-11 a staple stop for those on-the-go. Integrating technology with the coffee app service and promotion specials make the store even more likable for the younger generation (though there have been complaints about their coffee app not working).
7-11 is no longer the old pit-stop of yesteryear, selling car oil and greasy donuts. Nowadays it has a vast array of goods, including the high-end Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Starbucks coffee drinks, and KIND snack bars.
In 2003, Investor's Business Daily writer, Kirk Shinkle wrote an article on 7-11's new profits and an overview of how they turned their store image around.
"7-Eleven Inc. Dallas, Texas; Time To Move Beyond Jerky And Big Gulps?" -- http://news.investors.com/business-the-new-america/103103-392992-7-eleven-inc-dallas-texas-time-to-move-beyond-jerky-and-big-gulps-.htm#ixzz3jEZTr7TL
According to the article, 7-11 Chief Executive Jim Keyes stated,
"The company is adding new products such as home-made sandwiches and fresh fruit. That part of the business could make up 25% of sales in five to 10 years."Ten years later, such predictions have come true. According to Convenience Store and Fuel News, CSPnet.com,
"During 2013, 7-Eleven stores generated total worldwide sales close to $84.5 billion." -- http://www.cspnet.com/category-news/foodservice/articles/7-eleven-birthday-celebration-extends-beyond-711So with all those billions of dollars in 7-11's pocket, why are they ripping off customers whose lifetime paycheck will never equal such astronomical sums? It can't be supply and demand, since the very existence of so much cheap beef jerky throws that argument out the window. The only reasoning is, more profit. They want to drain every single drop (and every single ounce) from their customer's wallet that they can get.
During this mysterious re-phasing of their more expensive beef jerky, where the everyday staple of green ziplock bags disappeared into thin air, an even more expensive beef jerky line was put on display. KRAVE, a beef jerky that boasts such claims as: "All-Natural", "Product of USA", "No Artificial Ingredients, Minimally Processed"... (as opposed to the crap customers have been buying from 7-11's own brand?) At a whopping $7.99 for 3.25 oz. (plus Sales Tax of $0.70 in CA), it's definitely more of a high-end choice that few can afford after the $4.99 3 oz. 7-11 jerky.
Perhaps it's a sign of the times, where low-cost food is going the way of gasoline and never-again will we see such reasonable prices for items we use to buy everyday. With inflation exceeding a stagnant and outdated poverty level line, few will ever-again be able to afford what they used to.
Diets of the future will have to adapt. No more: meat, dairy, cold food, perishables, vegetables, fruits, fresh food, etc. For those with Celiac Disease, it's a much more grim fate. Stuck with packaged instant soup, instant coffee, canned tuna (if it's on sale), corn chips ($2.99 for 14 oz.). V8 drinks (if it's on sale because Ensure is far too expensive to drink), peanut butter, and maybe a chocolate bar or two a month. Even the size of chocolate bars have shrunk dramatically but for the same if not, higher price. Good luck trying to maintain a proper body weight (or measure of sanity).
No, I'm not going to "Thank Heaven for 7-11" because 7-11 has now chosen a different side, a very dark and sinister side that worships pieces of paper called money and has a golden idol called Profit. I think instead, I'll do my shopping elsewhere, most likely at a Japanese/Chinese store where gluten-free items are in abundance and fresh food can be sold without extra taxes and fees added on. In these stores, people open and close at decent times and workers are rarely called upon to work beyond their allotted hours or under minimum wage. These stores are often family owned and the clientele are much more civilized and say "Thank You" when they leave.
"ありがとうございました."
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Emerald Behrens, currently resides in San Francisco, where she writes about social injustice, homelessness and human frailty in general. She is a freelance writer, poet and author of "My Private Collection". She may be contacted at: emerarudo83 (at) gmail (dot) com.
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