Over the past few weeks, international flavors have become a central theme in menu updates at multiple convenience store chains. From full menu launches to single limited-time items, here is a rundown of the most notable foodservice developments in the convenience store retail industry recently.

Rutter's Launches 'South of the Border' Menu

Rutter's released the first products from itsSouth of the Border menuon March 31. The lineup includes more than 24 new or improved taco recipes, offering a variety of protein options such as barbacoa, steak, pulled pork, or ground beef, along with Old Bay-seasoned fried shrimp, rice and beans, and vegetarian options.

Customers can also fully customize burritos, nachos, and walking tacos.

Also part of the initial launch are 8 limited-time specialty tacos: fried chicken bacon ranch, BBQ pulled pork, classic steak, nacho-style ground beef, barbacoa cheese sauce, sweet chili shrimp, shrimp BLT, and Old Bay fish. These items are available through the end of June.

Additionally, Rutter's offered for a limited time in AprilPurple Moo vanilla milk。

Laredo Taco Introduces Walking Tacos

7-Eleven's Laredo Taco Company restaurants introducedwalking tacosas part of their Cinco de Mayo promotion.

Available from April 29 through June 23, the item features seasoned ground beef, cheese sauce, pico de gallo, and Doritos, served directly in the chip bag. During the same period, the company also offered a $3 discount on select beer.

The promotion also included $3 frozen margaritas on May 5, as well as a buy-one-get-one-free offer on burritos.

A photo of a box of Laredo Taco burritos with a green background. The box features the Laredo Taco Company name and the slogan 'For the love of tacos.'
Laredo Taco added walking tacos to its menu for a limited time, joining its offerings of tacos and burritos.
Image credit: 7-Eleven

QuickChek Introduces Purple Yam Drink

QuickChek added ube vanilla coffee to its beverage lineup for a limited time, according to a company email statement. Ube is a purple yam native to the Philippines with a mild sweetness and nutty vanilla flavor.

Coen Markets Expands Pizza Roll Flavors

Coen Markets expanded its pizza roll product line to includethree new flavors: ham and cheese, spicy pepperoni, and stromboli, which includes pepperoni and ham. All flavors are wrapped in seasoned baked dough and come with dipping sauce.

The retailer also partnered with thePittsburgh Riverhoundssoccer club to sell pepperoni rolls on their home game days.

Stewart's Names Ice Cream After Founding Family

Stewart's Shops introduced for a limited timeDake's Passionice cream. The new flavor features a vanilla ice cream base with blueberry and raspberry swirls and oat cinnamon crunch, named after the Dake family that founded Stewart's.

A couple from Saratoga Springs, New York, Mike and Linda Toohey, won the naming rights for the new flavor at last year's Saratoga Hospital Foundation charity gala with a bid of $50,000.

The retailer also turned another limited-time ice cream flavor, 'Dirt Cake,' into a milkshake. The shake includes Dirt Cake ice cream, milk, and chocolate drizzle, topped with whipped cream and gummy worms.