On CNN today....

IRVING, Texas (Reuters) -- What could be more convenient for 7-Eleven
customers in the United States than a Slurpee and a rice ball on the run?

James Keyes, the chief executive of world's top convenience-store operator
7-Eleven Inc. said in an interview on Tuesday he would like to bring one of
the most popular fast food items in Japan called "onigiri," or rice balls,
to 7-Eleven stores in the United States.

Onigiri, which are about as popular in Japan as sandwiches are in the United
States, typically consist of rice wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with
ingredients such as grilled salmon, pickled plums or cod roe.

Onigiri are a little smaller than hamburgers and are big sellers at 7-Eleven
stores in Japan.

Keyes said it would be a dream of his to be a force that propels onigiri
across the Pacific and into the mainstream of American food.

He said 7-Eleven customers could see onigiri on U.S. store shelves in a few
years.

"The movement toward the onigiri, or rice ball product, is certainly in
development. But we are probably two or three years away from being able to
have the right quality and taste combinations," Keyes said.

Keyes said that the retailer will look to develop onigiri flavors that will
sit well with U.S. consumers.

There could be rice ball offerings stuffed with barbecued pulled pork or
Cajun beans on its U.S. store shelves.

Some of the more popular Japanese onigiri items, such as spicy fish eggs,
dried fish flakes or kelp would probably not sit well with U.S. consumers
who may prefer a Slurpee and beef jerky.

The retailer has rolled out sushi in test markets in California and New York
over the past two years.

The Dallas-based retailer has recently increased its offerings of upscale,
low-price new foods as it has improved its infrastructure and delivery
speed.

The largest convenience store chain in the world, 7-Eleven sells 11.6
million Slurpee drinks in the United States each month and almost 100
million hot dogs a year -- more than any other American retailer.

Japanese retailer Ito-Yokado and its affiliates own the majority of 7-Eleven
Inc's common stock.






"burt" > wrote in message
m...
> About 25 years ago, i was on a stopover in Hawaii for a couple days.
> This good looking surfer dude showed me around the island in his VW
> bug. We stopped at a roadside concession stand and had these tasty
> rice balls wrapped in saran wrap. They were kind of sweet tasting.
> Seem to remember someone saying it was something eaten for breakfast.
> Anybody know what these were and where I can find A recipe?
> deb