7-ELEVEN NOW SELLS ORGANIC COOKIES

SARAH MULHOLLAND

DALLAS -- 7-Eleven here has begun selling organic cookies at 600 stores in Southern California, Dana Manley, a spokeswoman for the chain, told SN.

This is not the chain's first foray into the organic market, Manley said. Several stores in Colorado have also been testing an organic tea.

The move represents a victory for supporters of the natural foods movement as the convenience chain has never been cast at the forefront of the trend toward healthy living. Manley pegged the typical 7-Eleven customer as a male between the ages of 18 and 34, not the target audience for organic products. However, given the broad national interest in healthier living, the retailer felt it was time to gauge consumer interest, Manley said.

The cookies are being supplied by Organica Foods, a one-year-old company based in Toluca Lake, Calif. Four stockkeeping units are currently available on 7-Eleven's shelves.

Barbara Hautmann, senior writer at the Organic Trade Association, Washington, said Organica Foods is a member company of the OTA. Hautmann was optimistic about the doors this opens up for organic snack foods.

"We have seen the mainstreaming of organic foods in supermarkets for some time, so it is not so surprising to see a store such as 7-Eleven offer these products to their customers," Hautmann said. "We expect to see more of this in the future."