Fatty Friday - The Slurpee!

While growing up and even to this day, Michael Jackson had made a huge impact in my life, but not as much as the Slurpee has. Tomorrow is Slurpee Day, a great time to reflect on the great moments and memories one has had while enjoying an extremely cold beverage. Slurpees have made me the man I am today, so to you Mr. Knedlik, I say "Thank You."

HISTORY: Machines to make frozen beverages were invented by Omar Knedlik in the late 1950s. The idea for Slurpees came when Knedlik's soda fountain broke down, forcing him to put his sodas in a freezer to cool down, which caused them to become slushy. Many people loved them, which gave him the idea to make a machine to help make a "slushy". Early prototypes for the Slurpee machine made use of an automobile air conditioning unit. In 1965 the Slush was first invented and began to be sold by 7-Eleven. Bob Stanford, a 7-Eleven agency director, coined the term "Slurpee" in 1967. 7-Eleven was originally an American corporation, though having been bought by a Japanese company, Slurpees are now sold around the world.

FACTS:

• Slurpees are kosher (all except Pina Colada)
• Kennewick, Washington is vying for the crown of Slurpee capital of the world. The city of 62,000 people (as of the April 2008 census) has now held the record for 6 out of the last 9 months in 2008. The store in Kennewick achieved the status of most Slurpees sold in the U.S in 2007.
• Slurpees are gluten free
• Slurpee drinks are all served at 28 degrees.
• Early prototypes for the Slurpee machine made use of an automobile air conditioning unit.
• Slurpee was "invented" when some sodas were put in a freezer to cool them down — and they became all slushy.
• Bob Stanford, a 7-Eleven agency director, coined the term "Slurpee" in 1967.
• Only one private individual owns a bona fide Slurpee machine. The rest are in 7-Eleven.
• Winnipeg, Canada is generally thought to be the Slurpee capital of the world, due to their amazing Slurpee fanaticism.
• When Slurpee first hit the market, it wasn’t self-serve. The machine was behind the counter and the clerk served the product to you.
• At Slurpee, we call it a BrainFreeze. The scientific name for it is Sphenopalatine Ganglioneuralgia. Really.
• The current world record for drinking 6 oz. Slurpees in one minute is ELEVEN. This, however, caused a major BrainFreeze.
• Slurpee drinks are carbonated.
• Slurpee Day is July 11th.
• Sugar is the anti-freezing agent in most Slurpee drinks.
• The most popular size of Slurpee is the clear-cup Strata.
• In 1965, 7-Eleven created a Slurpee record featuring an original “Slurp” song.
• American Slurpee is injected with air. Canadian Slurpee is not.
• Half of all Slurpee drinks are purchased between the hours of 4 and 11 p.m.
• Every day more than 11.6 million Slurpee drinks are consumed around the world.
• Pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth is a known cure for brainfreeze.
• Slurpee is America’s most favorite frozen drink.
• Detroit is the U.S. Slurpee consuming champion.
• In 2004, 7-Eleven created an edible Slurpee straw.
• In 1998, Slurpee Lip Balm hit the market.
• More than 40% of all Slurpee drinks are sold during the months of June, July and August.
• Every year enough Slurpee drinks are sold to fill up 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
• The average Slurpee drinker's age is 29.

Watch this great instructional video!

http://www.slurpee.com/Slurpee101/Story.aspx