Who celebrates their birthday on July 11? Irving-based 7-Eleven Inc. of course. This year the convenience store chain is turning a big 9-0.
To celebrate its milestone birthday, 7-Eleven is inviting millions to join them for a free Slurpee party, continuing the tradition that started on the retailer’s 75th birthday in 2002.
Participating U.S. stores will give away an estimated 9 million free small Slurpee drinks from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Tuesday, July 11, while supplies last. Slurpee fans can try the new Cotton Candy flavor or one of their favorites.
“Celebrating our birthday with a free Slurpee drink, the product that is probably most closely associated with 7-Eleven, is a natural … and fun … way to mark the day!” said Laura Gordon, vice president of marketing and brand innovation. “7-Eleven Day is a celebration, not only of our birthday, but more importantly, of our customers. Ninety years is a big birthday, and our customers are the ones who got us here. By adding Slurpee Week, we have a whole week to say thank-you for their business throughout the year.”
During the annual birthday bash, 7-Eleven will offer a sneak peek at its new Slurpee cup design with colorful bubbles and swirls. The small cups for free Slurpee drinks will feature the new design.
Every year, July 11 marks the day that the world’s No. 1 convenience retailer observes its birthday and other company milestones. 7-Eleven introduced its iconic frozen carbonated beverage in 1966, and it was an immediate hit. The next year, the company’s advertising director coined the word “Slurpee” to describe the sound the drink made traveling through the straw. And a star was born.
Wacky flavor names and quirky radio spots created a drink craze among teens and young adults, the same demographic group that today makes up the drink’s biggest fans. Slurpee drinks enjoy worldwide popularity, with more than 7.4 billion Slurpee drinks slurped during its colorful history, enough for everyone on earth to enjoy one.
7-Eleven, the first convenience store, began its run in 1927 when a Southland Ice Company employee began selling bread, milk and eggs on an ice dock in a Dallas suburb. Since that inauspicious start, “convenience” has become a big business. The small ice company has grown into a major international retailing chain with almost 11,000 7-Eleven stores in North America and more than 62,000 stores worldwide, according to the company.
www.7-Eleven.com