7-Eleven Canada is set to serve up almost a half million free Slurpee drinks to mark the company's 42nd birthday this Monday, July 11. More than 465 stores across the country, including seven in the Tri-Cities, will each give away 1,000 7.11-ounce Slurpee drinks to customers.
The annual giveaway is the one of largest of its kind in Canada marking not only the more than four decades of growth in the country, but also the brand's 84 years in existence.
"This is a significant day for 7-Eleven and for Slurpee fans across the country," says Tim Donegan, vice president for 7-Eleven Canada. "This is our opportunity to thank our customers for more than 40 years of support. It's also a great chance for us to celebrate an iconic beverage that's become a summer staple for millions of Canadians."
Some areas of Canada are more fanatical about Slurpee drinks than others. For the 12th 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. While Manitoba has held the title for a dozen years, it continues to be challenged by Calgary and Detroit. Calgary and the Southern Alberta area took second place for the fifth year in a row. The Northwest Detroit area held on to third.
"This is always a tight race, but ultimately it's a friendly competition between different regions across Canada," says Donegan. "The Calgary and Southern Alberta region consistently give Manitoba a run for its money but can never get close enough to grab the title. Maybe next year will be their year."
To kick off the summer, 7-Eleven Canada has introduced a number of new Slurpee flavours including Crush Golden Fruit Smash Slurpee and Amp Freeze Frozen Beverage. Also making a reappearance to the Slurpee line-up is Mountain Dew Blue Shock.
Slurpee is a global icon that's available only at 7-Eleven stores. 7-Eleven customers sip almost 13 million Slurpee drinks every month. Slurpee has even made its way online, appearing in tweets on Twitter approximately every two to five minutes and generating more than 3.6 million results when searched on Google.
Canadian Slurpee Facts
Average Slurpee drinker is a 30-year-old male
A total of 87 per cent of Slurpee drinkers are over the age of 18
Thursdays are the most popular day of the week to purchase Slurpee drinks
41 per cent of Slurpee drinkers never mix their Slurpee drinks, 37 per cent always mix them, 21 per cent mix them some of the time
Summer 2011 flavours in Canada - Amp Freeze Frozen Beverage, Mountain Dew Blue Shock and Crush Golden Fruit Smash Slurpee
Slurpee is a trademark of 7-Eleven as is the term "brainfreeze"
Manitoba, Canada, has been theSlurpee Capital of the World for slurpee consumption for 12 straight years
Manitoba is famous for its "Slurpee Runs" - for example: a local factory requested 67 Slurpees and had them delivered to everyone at work back at the factory
In Winnipeg, when it is -40 degrees Celsius outside, people have been seen waiting for the bus, biking and skating with a Slurpee in hand
7-Eleven customers sip almost 13 million Slurpee drinks every month
Locally, 7-Eleven stores are at the following locations
Port Coquitlam
- 101 - 2540 Mary Hill Rd. at Wilson Ave., Port Coquitlam
- 3312 Coast Meridian Road, Port Coquitlam
Coquitlam:
- 1198 Lansdowne at Guildford Way, Coquitlam
- 1031 Brunette at Nelson, Coquitlam
- 100-2188 Austin Avenue, Coquitlam
- 1500 Austin Rd. at Schoolhouse, Coquitlam
Port Moody:
- 2929 Saint Johns' Street, Port Moody