The 7-Eleven brand came to Japan in the 1970s, but the stores have taken convenience to new heights, churning out new snack after new snack. They let CNN’s Hanako Montgomery in on their cream-puff-making process.

Tokyo

Japan now has the highest number of 7-Eleven stores globally, having adopted and expanded the American-born brand since the 1970s. The stores are known for their wide variety of snacks, which are developed through a rigorous process involving weekly meetings of top staff and subcontractors to create and refine new products.

A recent focus has been on cream puffs, with the company revamping recipes every six months to maintain freshness and appeal. The latest innovation is a double cream puff, offering increased cream and flavor. Sanitation and quality control are emphasized throughout the production process before products reach store shelves.

Japan has more 7-Eleven stores than anywhere

It's a good friend who always got me, yeah, like even at late at night they got a beer for me, some snacks, so it was great, yeah. You gotta hit the convenience stores for sure, every day. Yeah, more than the gym. Yeah, exactly, forget the gym. The gym takes a break. 7-Eleven was born in America, but clearly Japan has taken these snacks to the next level. I mean, look at all these sweets. 7-Eleven crossed the Pacific in the 70s, and now Japan has more stores than anywhere on Earth. Coming out with delectable new snacks at a dizzying pace. But have you ever wondered, how exactly does 7-Eleven churn out these tasty delights? Apparently, this meeting is key. Snack design is a serious business. 7-Eleven's top minds meet weekly to taste, test, and outdo the competition. On today's agenda is the cream puff. They call in their best subcontractors to come up with fresh recipes. And after weeks of trial and error, they finally land on the perfect puff. Then it's time to get baking. Of course, sanitation is key. 7-Eleven cream puffs get a revamp every six months to stay fresh. But this is the first ever double cream puff, which promises double the cream, double the flavor. Once sealed in plastic, they hit the shelves, and if you're lucky, straight into your stomach.

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