MCLEAN, VA - The iconic Slurpee gained a svelte sibling this week, as 7-Eleven began rolling out nationwide Slurpee Lite, a reduced calorie version of the FCB original, USA Today reports.
While the convenience store chain has previously launched low-cal, saccharin-based Slurpees regionally, this is the first national, low-calorie Slurpee for 7-Eleven (and this one is made with Splenda).
Slurpee Lite targets 20something females with the tagline "All flavor. No sugar." An 8-ounce Slurpee Lite Fanta Sugar-Free Mango contains 20 calories, 46 calories less than in an 8-ounce Fanta Wild Cherry Slurpee, 7-Eleven€™s best-selling full-calorie Slurpee.
"We talked to a group who said they would drink Slurpees more often if we take out the sugar and reduce the calories," said Laura Gordon, vice president of brand innovation.
To promote the new line, 7-Eleven will offer free 7.11-ounce Slurpees on May 23. While Lite Mango is launching this week, strawberry banana and cherry limeade are due out this summer.