For Second Year, Slurpee® Drinks and Sour Patch Kids® are Summer Besties

IRVING, Texas, June 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- 7-Eleven, Inc. customers will be seeing red this summer. The world's largest convenience retailer is working with Sour Patch Kids to introduce an exclusive Sour Patch Redberry-flavored Slurpee^® drink.

Sour Patch Redberry Slurpee has the flavor of Redberry Sour Patch Kids Soft and Chewy Candy that starts off sour, but ends sweet. The limited-time product is available exclusively at participating 7-Eleven^® stores through the end of the retailer's 100 Days of Summer.

Last year, 7-Eleven introduced its first Sour Patch Slurpee flavor, Watermelon, which quickly won a strong fan following. So strong that Sour Patch Watermelon became the first featured (limited-time) Slurpee flavor to become the top-seller ahead of the two perennial favorites, cherry and cola.

"This is a big year for Slurpee, as we celebrate 50 years of frozen fun," said Dennis Phelps, 7-Eleven vice president of food service and proprietary beverages. "We wanted a big flavor this summer, and we knew we had a proven winner with Sour Patch Kids after Watermelon broke all kinds of records last year. In 2016, we're taking summer fun and making it 'summer funner.'"

In just-for-fun social media polls, "red" – or Redberry – is the overwhelming favorite flavor of Sour Patch Kids candy chosen, winning more than half of the votes versus the other four flavors in a package. After last year's hit with Watermelon, 7-Eleven turned to another Sour Patch fan favorite for a repeat performance.

"We think we have another winner with Sour Patch Redberry Slurpee," said Laura Gordon, vice president of marketing and brand innovation. "Last year, we learned from social media that our customers were buying Sour Patch Kids to put in their favorite Slurpee drink. This year, we know that red is not only a favorite Slurpee flavor, it's also clearly the favorite Sour Patch Kids flavor by a huge margin. With Redberry, we are able to give them the best of both worlds."

Mondelez International's Sour Patch Kids is the No. 1 sour candy brand, and a  top-selling candy at 7-Eleven stores. Fruit-flavored Slurpee drinks also are among the most popular with 7-Eleven customers.

"Summer is a special time for Teens and we're making it even more awesome by combining Sour Patch Kids' most talked about flavor with the fun of Slurpee.  Summer doesn't get much better than this," said Wesley Saraceni, Brand Manager NA Candy at Mondelēz International.

Tim Jones, Customer Vice President Convenience and Vending, said "Mondelēz International is thrilled to once again bring together two of the most iconic teen brands in the Sour Patch Kids Redberry Slurpee.  The relationship between 7-Eleven and Mondelez International will make this an even larger success in 2016."

7-Eleven is bringing back its Sour Patch Slurpee Selfie Challenge, where fans will have a chance to show how they eat their Sour Patch Kids and drink their Sour Patch Redberry-flavored Slurpee. One lucky selfie poster will win tickets to the Teen Choice Awards 2016 in Los Angeles on July 31, 2016.

To participate, Slurpee fans must tweet a selfie with a Sour Patch Kids Redberry Slurpee between June 26 and July 15, including the hashtags #SlurpeeSelfie and #Sweepstakes, and tag @SourPatchKids. The winner, selected in a random drawing, will win an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the Teen Choice Awards at the Forum. The annual awards show airs on the FOX network.

The prize package includes round-trip airfare, two nights hotel accommodations, two tickets to the awards show, two VIP post-Awards party passes, ground transportation to hotel, airport and event, and $1,500 in spending money.

7-Eleven is marking the 50^th birthday of its proprietary Slurpee semi-frozen carbonated beverage with ongoing promotions and parties. The popular drink has generational appeal with slurpers both young and old. More than a half-million Slurpee drinks are purchased each day during the summer at 7-Eleven stores across the country. 

About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7‑Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7‑Eleven^® operates, franchises and licenses more than 10,700 7‑Eleven stores in North America. Globally, approximately 59,500 7‑Eleven stores serve customers in 17 countries. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.

About Mondelēz International
Mondelēz International, Inc. is a global snacking powerhouse, with 2015 net revenues of approximately $30 billion.  Creating delicious moments of joy in 165 countries, Mondelēz International is a world leader in biscuits, chocolate, gum, candy and powdered beverages, with billion-dollar brands such as Oreo, LU and Nabisco biscuits; Cadbury, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Milka chocolate; and Trident gum.  Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor's 500, NASDAQ 100 and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.

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SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc.

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