CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cheerwine, the "legendary soft drink of the South," has been described as best served bone-chilling cold, which makes it a perfect new flavor for 7-Eleven Inc.'s Slurpee semi-frozen carbonated drink. Now Carolina Cheerwine followers can find their favorite cherry-flavored beverage in frozen form at 131 7-Eleven convenience stores in North and South Carolina.
Created almost 100 years ago, Cheerwine has its roots in North Carolina.
"Our Carolina stores have carried Cheerwine soda, but locals really love having their favorite Southern soft drink as a Slurpee," said Nancy Smith, 7-Eleven senior vice president of fresh foods and proprietary beverages. "Some tourists visiting North Carolina try Cheerwine for the first time as a Slurpee and then purchase it in cans or bottles to take home with them."
7-Eleven began experimenting with local flavors earlier this year with the introduction of a Vernors Ginger Ale Slurpee drink in its Michigan c-stores. Likewise, Cheerwine aficionadas are discovering the Slurpee version of their favorite. Other local Slurpee flavors include Squirt in Los Angeles-area 7-Eleven c-stores and Big Red in greater San Antonio 7-Eleven c-stores.
"Our goal is to get to know our guests and carry not only the products they expect to find at 7-Eleven, but also surprise them with new, unusual and fun items not typically found at a convenience store or anywhere else," Smith said. "And those can vary depending on the state, city, sometimes even the neighborhood. These niche flavors have proved to be true hometown favorites because they're what the locals love and crave."
Based in Dallas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 10,300 convenience stores in North America. Globally, more than 53,500 7-Eleven c-stores operate in 16 countries. During 2013, 7-Eleven c-stores generated total worldwide sales close to $84.5 billion.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.