CHICAGO — 7-Eleven Inc. is bringing a strong collection of fresh foods and packaged products to its convenience-store franchisees this year.

The new products, including a complete line of beef jerky, packaged pasta salads and exotic sliced fruits, were featured during the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees’ 40th annual convention and trade show held in Chicago in late July. Some of the foods were first made available to 7-Eleven franchisees this past spring, while others will come out this fall.

“Hot food is their emphasis right now,” Joe Galea, chairman of the coalition, told CSP Daily News. “It’s good for us. There’s more profit there.”

Galas, a single-store franchisee in Northern California, has tried hot foods in many shapes and forms over the years, from hot dogs in boiling water and a roller-grill program to packaged sandwiches and taquitos. But he realizes the products introduced this summer may be many franchisees’ first venture into hot foods.

“The franchisees need to support the program,” Galea said about making foodservice work. “It’s going to give us the opportunity to compete with quick-service restaurants.”

Below is a slideshow look at some of the new products. Others include “new and improved” cookies, a steak-and-cheese melt, Go Yum premium packaged bakery products, 7 Select ready-to-drink juices in four flavors and an “improved” crust for the company’s fresh-made pizza program.

“We can cook a fresh pizza in 3 minutes. Domino’s can’t do that,” Galea said enthusiastically. “7-Eleven wants to be the destination for breakfast and lunch, and I think we’re getting there.”