Free Slurpee® Drink Day is Just the Beginning of 7-Eleven® Stores' Weeklong Birthday Bash

DALLAS, July 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to birthdays, there can never be too much of a good thing. Why celebrate just one day when you can extend the fun all week? That's why 7-Eleven is celebrating its 87^th birthday with a full week (actually eight days) of free offers, beginning Friday, July 11, or 7-Eleven Day.  Except this time, instead of guests bringing presents to the birthday party, they're receiving them as a thank-you from the company that founded convenience retailing in 1927.

Probably best known as FREE SLURPEE^® DRINK DAY, July 11 is the day the convenience retailer gives away millions of Slurpee drinks to toast its birthday. Between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. this Friday at participating stores, visitors can receive a free small Slurpee drink while supplies last. This is the 12^th year the convenience retailer has offered free Slurpee drinks on its birthday.

But that's not the end of the party. Each day through Saturday, July 19, a coupon for a different, free item will be featured on 7-Eleven's smartphone app.

The daily birthday offers are …

And for the big finish (drumroll) …

To receive each day's free offer, a customer must first download and register on the 7-Eleven app.  A customer opens the 7-Eleven app at the store and shows the member barcode to the sales associate at checkout.  The bar code appears below the coupons. Once the associate scans the barcode at the register, the customer will receive the item as they check out. Quantities are limited, and the free items are available at participating stores while supplies last.  The offer is limited to one free item per person, per day. The 7-Eleven app is not required to receive a free Slurpee drink on 7-Eleven Day (Friday, July 11).

"Every year on 7-Eleven Day, we take the opportunity to thank our guests for their patronage throughout the year," said Laura Gordon, 7-Eleven vice president of Marketing and Brand Innovation. "This year we're saying thanks in an even bigger way with eight days of free stuff. Summer is the season of fun, and each day's special offer through our 7-Eleven app is a fun treat to enjoy, compliments of 7-Eleven and our supplier partners."

This summer, two limited-edition Slurpee drink flavors are among choices at 7-Eleven – Lemonade, made with real fruit juice, and Slurpee Lite^™ Sugar-Free Fanta Watermelon Punch.

"Slurpee is known for its delicious variety of flavors and colors," Gordon said, "and this summer is no different. This year's flavors celebrate the season with two of the most popular refreshments this time of year – lemonade and watermelon. Our colorful mason jar cups and mustache straws add an extra element of fun, bringing out the kid in all of us."

Each 7-Eleven Day, the Slurpee birthday party extends to social media where 7-Eleven sees its traffic increase by double digits on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The retailer has added Tumblr to its social media mix this year.

Participating 7-Eleven stores also are offering ¼-pound Big Bite® hot dogs this Friday for $1 as part of the birthday celebration. Adding to the already great value, customers can top these dollar-dogs with their choice of condiments like mustard, catsup, onions, relish, chili and hot melted cheese for no extra charge.

7-Eleven and Slurpee are among the world's most recognized brands. 7-Eleven created the concept of convenience retailing in 1927, when an employee began selling milk, bread and eggs from an ice dock in Dallas, Texas. Today, 87 years later, 7-Eleven has more locations than any other retailer or restaurant with more than 53,300 stores in 16 countries. Worldwide, an estimated 53 million shop at 7-Eleven stores every day.

7-Eleven's most iconic brand – Slurpee – celebrates its 49^th birthday this year. 7-Eleven introduced the frozen carbonated beverage in its stores in 1965, and it was an immediate hit. Wacky flavor names and quirky radio spots created a drink craze among teens and young adults, the same demographic group that is the drinks' biggest fans. Slurpee drinks enjoy worldwide popularity, with more than 7 billion Slurpee drinks slurped during its colorful history, enough for everyone on earth to enjoy one.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises or licenses more than 10,300 7-Eleven® stores in North America. Globally, there are more than 53,300 7-Eleven stores in 16 countries. During 2013, 7-Eleven stores generated total worldwide sales close to $84.5 billion. 7-Eleven has been honored by a number of companies and organizations recently. Accolades include: #2 on Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise Companies for 2013; #3 spot on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list for 2012, and #3 in Forbes magazine's Top 20 Franchises to Start. 7-Eleven is No. 3 on Fast Company magazine's 2013 list of the "World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Retail" and among the Top Veteran-Friendly Companies for 2013 by U.S. Veterans Magazine and on GI Jobs magazine's Top 100 Military Friendly Employers for 2014. Hispanic Magazine named 7-Eleven among its Hispanic Corporate Top 100 Companies that provide the most opportunities to Hispanics. 7-Eleven is franchising its stores in the U.S. and expanding through organic growth, acquisitions and its Business Conversion Program. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com.

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SOURCE 7-Eleven, Inc.