IRVING, Texas — As the U.S. prepares to “spring forward” for Daylight Saving Time, 7-Eleven is introducing two new frozen beverages. The drinks are designed to help customers power through the lost hour of sleep.
The convenience retailer announced the launch of the Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Slurpee drink and the Fresca Zero Sugar Slurpee drink. Both drinks will be available at participating 7-Eleven®, Speedway® and Stripes® stores nationwide.
Together, the new flavors combine recognizable candy and beverage brands with the chain’s signature frozen drink format. In addition, the limited-time offerings are available through April 28, 2026.
As a result, the drinks aim to capture seasonal demand for refreshing beverages. At the same time, they tap into existing brand familiarity across the candy and soft drink categories.
According to details released by the company, the rollout aligns with the annual time change. During this period, consumers often look for convenient energy boosts or refreshing drinks to adjust to disrupted sleep schedules.
New frozen flavors hit convenience store shelves
The two new drinks bring distinct flavor profiles to the Slurpee lineup, each drawing from well-known consumer packaged goods brands.
New flavors include:
- Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Slurpee Drink – A frozen beverage inspired by the watermelon version of the popular sour candy brand. It delivers a tart watermelon flavor with a pronounced sour finish. Customers who purchase a 7.2–8-ounce bag of Sour Patch Kids candy can also receive a small Slurpee drink as part of the promotion.
- Fresca Zero Sugar Slurpee Drink – A frozen citrus beverage inspired by the Fresca soft drink brand. It combines grapefruit and citrus flavors. The drink is marketed as a zero-sugar option. It targets consumers looking for lighter refreshment without added sugar.
The promotion runs through April 28, 2026, and is available at participating locations across the retailer’s network of convenience stores.
A spokesperson for the company said the drinks are part of a broader strategy to combine recognizable CPG brands with limited-time offerings designed to drive seasonal store traffic.
Why it matters
Convenience retailers increasingly rely on limited-time beverage innovations and brand collaborations to maintain consumer engagement. These launches help create excitement and bring customers back into stores.
Frozen drinks like Slurpees have long been a traffic driver for convenience retailers such as 7-Eleven. This is especially true during seasonal transitions and warmer months, when demand for cold beverages increases.
By partnering with recognizable brands like Sour Patch Kids and Fresca, the company taps into existing brand equity. At the same time, it introduces novelty within a familiar product format.
Cross-category collaborations between candy brands, soda brands, and frozen beverages have become a common tactic in the CPG industry. These partnerships allow retailers to generate attention without launching entirely new product lines.
The inclusion of a zero-sugar option reflects broader beverage industry trends. Many companies are introducing reduced-sugar formulations and alternative products. These options appeal to health-conscious consumers looking for lighter beverages.
Other News
These strategic time-sensitive beverage launches are just the opening act for a week of aggressive customer acquisition. As 7-Eleven helps fans navigate the lost hour of sleep, they are simultaneously preparing for a massive logistical “burst” with the 7-Eleven Pi Day 2026 promotion. By offering $3.14 whole pizzas and 31.4-cent fried pies, the brand is leveraging its 7Rewards® ecosystem to maintain traffic momentum long after the Daylight Saving grogginess has faded. For suppliers and manufacturing partners, the ability to pivot from high-precision syrup distribution to a national surge in frozen dough and fruit fillings highlights the necessity of an elastic and data-driven supply chain.
Editor’s note: Source86 perspective
For food manufacturers and private label brands, the launch highlights an ongoing CPG trend: brand collaborations that extend familiar flavors into new product formats. Candy-inspired beverages, frozen drink variations, and seasonal releases help retailers generate excitement without dramatically altering supply chains.
At Source86, we help brands navigate these trends through ingredient sourcing, co-manufacturing partnerships, and private label production. Whether companies are launching a seasonal beverage, developing a candy-inspired flavor, or scaling a limited-time promotion, strong supplier networks and FSQA oversight ensure products reach shelves efficiently and consistently. Let’s talk.
FAQs
7-Eleven introduced Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Slurpee and Fresca Zero Sugar Slurpee drinks at participating stores.
The limited-time drinks are available through April 28, 2026, at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway and Stripes locations.
Yes. The Fresca Zero Sugar Slurpee drink is formulated as a zero-sugar frozen beverage, offering citrus and grapefruit flavors inspired by the Fresca soda brand.
External source: 7-Eleven, Inc. Gives Customers a Boost with Energizing Sips for Daylight Saving Time
