Slurpee celebrates 40 years of 'brain freeze'

0 Comments | USA TODAY, July, 2005 | by Theresa Howard

NEW YORK -- Long before smoothies and Frappuccinos there was the Slurpee.

The slushy, colorful 7-Eleven brand -- and American icon -- turns 40 today and is still popular for the same reasons it caught on back then: fun, variety, "brain freeze" and colored tongues.

"We've kept it fun with the interesting flavors we've had over the years," says Jim Keyes, 7-Eleven CEO. "At the heart of it, it's just a fun product that people enjoy."

Today, consumers can enjoy a free sample at 7-Eleven's 5,800 stores in the USA and Canada. The samples kick off a month-long Slurpee promotion that includes radio play of original 1960s Slurpee ads, retro 1973 cups, Coca-Cola-developed flavors Blue Blunder Berry and Gully Washer, free music downloads and a giveaway of four Mini...