Slurpee

A Slurpee is a frozen carbonated beverage sold by 7-Eleven. In 1967 [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4898/is_200303/ai_n18004283 Former 7-Eleven CEO Thompson dies. (Top of the News).(John Thompson)(Obituary) | National Petroleum News | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] , 7-Eleven licensed the product from the ICEE Company, and began selling it as the Slurpee. Slurpee is a registered trademark of the 7-Eleven Corporation.

7-Eleven currently sources their FCB equipment from supplier FBD and previously from suppliers IMI Cornelius and the Taylor Company.

The Slurpee machine has a dispenser knob for each flavor at the front of a tumbler or freezer, where patrons pour their own Slurpees. When Slurpees were first introduced, the dispensing machine was located behind the counter, and the clerk on duty would be tasked with dispensing the product. Common flavors are frozen Coke and cherry, but new flavors are introduced regularly. In the early days, flavors rotated much more vigorously than in modern times.

In the summer of 2006, 7-Eleven re-designed their cups to appeal more to young adults and teenagers to compete with the rising energy drink market. New signs and banners supported the change with lines such as "Mountain Dew Livewire: Shocking, like your report card."

Worldwide consumption

7-Eleven stores are a franchise, and Slurpees are offered in many but not all covered countries.

Canadians purchase an average of 30 million drinks per year. Despite its status as the coldest city in the world with a population of over 600,000, [cite web | url=http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/weather/winners/highlights-e.html | title=Weather Winners WebSite | publisher= Environment Canada | accessdate=2007-02-05] Winnipeg, Manitoba was crowned the Slurpee Capital of the world for the ninth time in a row in 2008. In Manitoba, 7-Eleven stores across the province sell an average of 8,330 Slurpee drinks per month. The rest of Canada sells an average of 5,990, which makes Manitobans the world leader of Slurpee sales.

Though it is known to be sold in Mexico, it is not sold in most standard 7-Elevens.

Kennewick, Washington is vying for the crown of Slurpee capital of the world. The city of 54,693 people (as of 2000 census) has now held the record for 6 out of the last 9 months in 2008. The store in Kennewick achieved the status of most Slurpees sold in the U.S in 2007. [ [http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/198593.html] ]

Dietary Information

Many Slurpee flavors are certified kosher "parve" as well as halal [ [http://www.crcweb.org/kosher/consumer/articles/F-slurpees.html CRC Kosher status] ] . The Diet Pepsi flavor uses sodium caseinate as an anti-freezing agent (sugar is a natural anti-freeze in other flavors) which only gives it the status of kosher dairy. The Piña Colada flavor, however, is not kosher. [ [http://www.star-k.org/cons-appr-slurpee.htm Star-K Kosher Flavor List] ]

References

See also

* The ICEE Company
* Italian ice
* Slush Puppie
* Frozen carbonated beverage
* Brain freeze
* Piragua

External links

* [http://www.slurpee.com/ 7-Eleven's Official Slurpee website]
* [http://www.slate.com/id/2126309/?nav=ais "The Slurpee at 40: Has it grown up?"] by David Amsden, Slate.com, Sept. 14, 2005
* [http://www.slurpeeflavors.com/ SlurpeeFlavors.com] Find out what flavors are in your area