2009-07-08 21:51:51 -
VANCOUVER, B.C. -- July 10, 2009 – To mark 40 successful years in Canada, 7-Eleven stores across the country will be giving away nearly half a million free Slurpees. On Saturday, July 11, every 7-Eleven store in Canada will hand out 1,000 7.11-ounce Slurpee drinks to customers.
The annual giveaway is the largest of its kind in Canada with 461,000 free Slurpees up for grabs. It has been held for the past eight years on 7-Eleven Day or July 11 – the eleventh day of the seventh month.
“We look forward to 7-Eleven Day every year because it’s our chance to say thank you to our customers,” says Tim Donegan, 7-Eleven’s Canadian division vice president. “Their support and loyalty has kept 7-Eleven
strong for 40 years in Canada. Now it’s our turn to give back.”
For the tenth consecutive year, Manitoba has been crowned the Slurpee Capital of the World for having the highest average number of Slurpee cups sold per store in a region. The city received fierce competition from Calgary and Southwest Detroit, with Calgary clinching second place for slurping up Slurpees. Last year, a 7-Eleven in Kennewick, Washington emerged as the number one Slurpee selling store in the world. The Kennewick store continues to hold that title.
Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz will receive a commemorative plaque on behalf of the city to celebrate ten years as Slurpee champs on Friday, July 10 at Winnipeg City Hall (510 Main Street). A presentation of the Slurpee Cup will take place that evening at the Blue Bombers home game versus the Calgary Stampeders.
“Winnipeggers love their Slurpees and we are honoured to have the title for the tenth year in a row,” says Mayor Katz. “There is no doubt in my mind that Winnipeggers will snag the title for another ten!”
7-Eleven has another reason to celebrate this season with the launch of a new Slurpee flavour, G-Force Fruit Punch from the maker of Gatorade, exclusive to Slurpee and 7-Eleven.
In 2008, Canadians drank an average of 2.25 million Slurpees per month for a total of more than 27 million Slurpees.
Slurpee Origins
Founded in Dallas, Texas as an ice company in 1927, 7-Eleven pioneered the convenience store concept when its ice docks started selling milk, bread and eggs. 7-Eleven trademarked the name “Slurpee” in 1965, naming it after the sound made when the beverage comes up the straw. Slurpees first appeared in Canada on the opening of the first Canadian 7-Eleven store in Calgary in June 1969. They have been a Canadian favourite ever since.
About 7 Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses approximately 7,800 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 36,200 stores in 15 countries. During 2008, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $53.7 billion. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.
Basic Slurpee Facts
• Manitoba is the Slurpee Capital of the World for Slurpee consumption in a region– 10 straight years
• More than 40% of all Slurpee drinks are sold during the sunny summer months of June, July and August
• 41% of Slurpee drinkers never mix their Slurpees, 37% always mix them, 21% mix them some of the time
• The average Slurpee drinker is a 30-year-old male
• Slurpee drinks are served fountain-style at a frosty -2.2 degrees Celsius
• “Slurpee” is a trademark of 7-Eleven, as is “brainfreeze”
• Slurpee got its name during a brainstorming session, while drinking the product through a straw someone commented it made a ‘slurp’ sound and the rest is history
• Slurpee made its first appearance in Canada in June 1969 when the first store opened in Calgary
• Slurpee was first created in 1959 by a Kansas hamburger stand owner, Omar Knedlik
-Using a car air conditioner, Knedlik created a piece of equipment that would freeze a carbonated soft drink and serve it in a ‘sherbet-like’ form
-In 1965, a 7-Eleven zone manager in the US saw the machine and brought it into three stores in Texas
-The drink became a sensation and by 1967 was in all US 7-Eleven stores
• The newest 2009 summer flavours in Canada are:
-G-Force Fruit Punch by the maker of Gatorade, exclusive to Slurpee and 7-Eleven
-Crush Strawberry Limeade
-Crush Bubblegum
-Dr. Pepper Cherry
• The new MUGumental refillable 52 ounce Slurpee cup is available now. Refills are $1.09.
For more information contact:
Ross Sullivan / Sheila Calder
Peak Communicators Ltd
(604) 689-5559
