DALLAS -- 7-Eleven Inc. customers across the country can get a free 7.11-oz. Slurpee drink to celebrate July 117/11 or 7-Eleven Daythe day when the world's first convenience chain celebrates its birthday. 2010 marks 83 years since the company was founded in Dallas.
The convenience chain has been celebrating its birthday with free Slurpee drinks since its 75th anniversary celebration in 2002.
Participating 7-Eleven stores across America and Canada will serve five million free Slurpee frozen carbonated beverages in special birthday cups while supplies last. "Slurpee-brations" [image-nocss] and 7-Eleven birthday parties are being held around the country with music, entertainment, prizes and food sampling.
7-Eleven is also using its namesake day to kick off its second annual Slurpee Battle of the Bands (BOTB) contest. Starting this Sunday, 12 home-grown musical groups will begin showcasing their talents and compete for semi-finalist status at four regional concerts.
The first concert takes place Sunday, July 11, at 7:00 p.m. in Los Angeles at The House of Blues on Sunset Strip where three of the bands will open for a performance by Train, the Grammy Award-winning mainstream rock group from San Francisco. In this virtual talent contest, fans can view all performances live online on Slurpee's Facebook fanpage (www.facebook.com/Slurpee) and vote for their favorite band at Slurpee.com. Voting is open for three days immediately after each event.
"7-Eleven Day has become so popular that people mark it as a recurring event on their calendars," said Stefanie Olson, 7-Eleven brand manager for Slurpee and Big Gulp beverages. "Some people forget that it's July 11 or 7-Eleven Day. They just know it as free Slurpee day."
Free Slurpee drinks aside, July, typically the hottest month in the United States, is the top-selling Slurpee month of the year.
7-Eleven, said to be the first convenience store, began its run in 1927 when a Southland Ice Co. employee started selling bread, milk and eggs from an ice dock as a convenience for his customers. That small ice company has grown into a major international retailing chain with close to 8,200 7-Eleven stores in North America and more than 38,100 worldwide.
During 2008, Dallas-based 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $53.7 billion.
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