7-Eleven's Early Pumpkin Spice Slurpee Sparks Mixed Reactions, Limited to Select Locations

7-Eleven launched a pumpkin spice Slurpee on August 1, but its limited availability to five locations leaves many fans waiting for a broader release.

7-Eleven Debuts Pumpkin Spice Slurpee on August 1, Limited to Five Select Locations Nationwide

Many love fall, but August 1 seems prematurely early for pumpkin spice. Hearing Mariah Carey's Christmas music in stores before Thanksgiving is reminiscent. Nevertheless, 7-Eleven disagrees. As Mashed shared information in an August 1 press release, the convenience store chain announced the introduction of a new pumpkin spice, Slurpee. However, this latest offering is only available at five specific locations.

Dennis Phelps, 7-Eleven's senior vice president of merchandising, stated in the announcement, "7-Eleven customers are huge pumpkin spice fans, so we're always looking for reasons to bring out the pumpkins a bit early and delight customers with new creations." This marks the first pumpkin spice version of the famous Slurpee.

This launch is a marketing strategy. 7-Eleven likely aims to generate buzz before a potential nationwide rollout of the new Slurpee flavor later this month, though this is speculative. If the company introduces it early, a broader release would be preferable.

7-Eleven's Early Pumpkin Spice Release Amid Summer Heat Sparks Debate Over Limited Availability

This isn't the first time companies have initiated pumpkin spice season prematurely. In the past, 7-Eleven has introduced fall flavors as early as spring, such as the salted caramel flavor in April 2022.

One appeal of autumn is the cooling weather, yet at the time of writing, temperatures in LA and Enon, Ohio, exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and in Irving, Texas, and New York City, they surpass 90 degrees Fahrenheit — not precisely "cozy." These locations were chosen for the limited release, possibly explaining the choice of a frozen pumpkin spice product. Despite the high temperatures, 7-Eleven has already launched three other pumpkin-infused products nationwide: a coffee, a cold brew, and a latte. So, why not extend the same availability to the Slurpee?

The idea of a frozen Slurpee with cinnamon and pumpkin spice is intriguing. However, with limited access to a few areas, how it tastes is still beginning with over 13,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada, and a five-store launch is minimal. It may be just FOMO, but the limited release seems like a tease.