Slurpee Capital

So like I just have to say that many of my American friends, who have never been to Canada, or been here so long ago that they don’t remember, think its cold all year round here, and maybe we are colder more often then they are and longer then they are. But here in Winnipeg no matter rain or shine, winter or summer we love our slurpees.

Its said that you know your from Winnipeg when you walk home from school in -40C weather plus a wind chill to make it feel like -500000000000000000, wearing ski pants, winter coat, mitts, scarf’s, toques, and you go to 7-11 for a slurped.

Now that may be a little overborad but it is true we love our slurpees and once again we have gotten named Slurpee Capital again 7th year running.

Here is a clip from the university news paper

Winnipeg named Slurpee capital of world for the sixth time
Kirsten Whitehill
The Projector (Red River College)
WINNIPEG (CUP) — Twenty-three-year-old Winnipegger Amber Peter waits for her bus at the corner of River Road and St. Mary’s. Her cheeks are rosy and you can see her breath when she talks. It’s a cold winter day, but that hasn’t stopped her from buying a large Slurpee from the 7-Eleven store just behind her.

Sucking back an average of 400,000 Slurpees every month, Manitoba has won the title of Slurpee Capital of the World for the past six years, showing that Peters is not alone in her obsession.

“I’ve been trying to get my hands on one of those bumper stickers that says Slurpee Capital of the World,” said Peter. “If I can drink one of these in this weather, I think I deserve at least that.”

There are 27,900 7-Elevens worldwide, and Manitobans purchase approximately 8,300 Slurpee drinks per store each month.

Not to mention the fact that alternative frozen beverages, such as Slush Puppies and Frosters, don’t count toward the Slurpee competition.

According to 7-Eleven’s slurpee.com website, a broken soda fountain machine back in 1959 is responsible for the Slurpee creation.

Omar Knedlik, who owned a drive-in hamburger restaurant in Kansas, served semi-frozen bottled pop from his freezer as a quick fix when his fountain broke. The success of the slushy soda inspired Knedlik to develop a machine that would replicate his invention.

With the help of a Dallas machinery manufacturer, the first slush machine was invented.

When a 7-Eleven manager noticed one of the slush machines in a competitor’s store, he saw success and knew he had to buy one. By 1965, 7-Eleven had purchased three machines, and only two years later almost every 7-Eleven store was equipped with a machine. The ice drinks were later named Slurpees, after the noise they make when sipped through a straw.

Today enough Slurpee drinks are sold each year to fill up 12 Olympic swimming pools.

“I drink Slurpees all season long,” said Peter. “This city wouldn’t be the same without its Slurpees.”

This paper was written in march 29th, 2006 and just this past week we were given the tital again for our 7th year