FOOD NEWS
How 7-Eleven's Slurpee Actually Started With Dairy Queen
By Aimee Lamoureux
The convenience store mega-franchise 7-Eleven has come a long way since its inception in 1927, providing many customers worldwide with the late-night snacks they crave. The company grew over the years, expanding its selection beyond basic necessities, and began selling more goods, including its iconic slushy beverage, the Slurpee.
While Slurpees are a 7-Eleven staple, the credit for the invention belongs to Omar Knedlik, a Kansas-based businessman and Dairy Queen franchise owner. After struggling to maintain his machines, a malfunctioning soda machine led Knedlik to move his sodas into the freezer, causing the sodas to freeze slightly and develop a slushy-like texture.
Much to Knedlik’s surprise, his customers began requesting their sodas to be slightly frozen; thus, ICEE was born. The innovation was so popular that 7-Eleven and Knedlik struck a deal in 1965 to sell ICEEs at the convenience store, though the name was changed to the Slurpee, inspired by the loud slurping sound straws make when trying to suck up the last of the sweet beverage.