Core Data is super fast and super efficient, so if the data you have is static, I would just add it to your target in the format you have (JSON, XML) and then on the app first run process it and store it into Core Data, which is basically an sql database. From then you can access it everywhere in your project. And you will not have to hold 700 items array in memory.
Apple provides template for Core Data stack which is loaded in the AppDelegare, so if you create new empty project and tick use core data, you will get all the methods in AppDelegate. You can then copy them into your project, define your model, create NSManagedObject subclasses and update your core data methods to reflect correct model and file name.
Alternativelly, you can also include preloaded sqlite into your project, but I would keep it easy and use the first option.