DALLAS -- 7-Eleven Inc. is kicking off the summer Slurpee season this Memorial Day holiday. The convenience retailer's #Awesummer Summer Slurpee Days officially begins Memorial Day weekend with a 49-cent medium-size Slurpee drink deal that is available at participating 7-Eleven stores Friday through Monday, May 24 to 27.
Actress Ashley Benson of ABC TV's Pretty Little Liars and the movie Spring Breakers, appeared at a Los Angeles 7-Eleven store to take the ceremonial first summer Slurpee sip. After that inaugural slurp, Benson set her cup down on a machine that precipitated a chain reaction ultimately raising a colorful banner officially opening the 2013 Slurpee Season.
For her inaugural sip, Benson picked the new Slurpee Lite Sugar Free Sprite flavor.
Sweetened with Splenda (sucralose), an eight-fluid-ounce serving of the Slurpee Lite Sprite drink contains 20 calories and is caffeine-free. Introduced this month, the new low-calorie flavor is accompanied on the Slurpee machine by the new Fanta Oddball Orange flavor, named for its kumquat flavor twist. All the featured summer flavors were created by The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, in coordination with its brands, Sprite and Fanta.
"This is the first time 7-Eleven has celebrated Memorial Day weekend with a special offer on Slurpee all weekend long," said Laura Gordon, 7-Eleven vice president of brand innovation. "Memorial Day weekend is four days long at 7-Eleven and four days of flavors. So whether it's trying our three new awesome summer, or '#Awesummer,' flavors or grabbing an long-time favorite like Coca-Cola or Fanta Wild Cherry, everyone can celebrate summer's first holiday with a 49-cent medium Slurpee drink."
The retailer is also offering a smartphone app (available via the App Store or Google Play) to allow consumers to take advantage of #Awesummer mobile coupons for free and on value offers, treats and food all summer long. Each week through Labor Day, exclusive coupons for items such as free Slurpee drinks and free Snickers Ice Cream Bars, as well as other special offers, will appear on the 7-Eleven app. The free products are available at participating stores, while supplies last.
To receive a link to download the 7-Eleven app, users with iPhone (iOS) and Android-powered phones can text APP to 711711. 7-Eleven fans can also receive twice-a-month text notifications of special offers by texting DEALS to 711711.
"We expect to offer more than 30 coupons for free merchandise plus lots of additional value offers on our most popular products," Gordon said. "The app is free, so the return on investment is, shall we say, '#Awesummer'."
In addition to everyday flavors, the Slurpee summer flavor lineup includes:
- May 18 to June 23: Slurpee Lite Sugar Free Sprite, Slurpee Fanta Oddball Orange.
- June 24 to Sept. 3: Slurpee Lite Sugar Free Fanta Mango Lemonade, Slurpee Fanta Strawberry Lemonshade.
Based in Dallas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 10,000 7-Eleven stores in North America. Globally, 7-Eleven has some 50,000 stores in 16 countries. During 2012, 7-Eleven stores generated total worldwide sales close to $84.8 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.