Winnipeg retains 'Slurpee capital' title

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, July 10 (UPI) -- The central Canadian city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has been named 7-Eleven's Slurpee capital of the world, refuting claims by a town in Washington state.

Winnipeg has held the title for eight years, but recent U.S. media reports claimed Kennewick, in south-central Washington's Tri-City area, had taken the honor, the Winnipeg Sun reported.

Sheila Calder, a 7-Eleven spokeswoman in Vancouver, British Columbia, said that wasn't true of sales of the sweet, slushy frozen drinks.

"Winnipeg still has the title for the ninth consecutive year," Calder said.

She said company officials would present the award to a city official at a 7-Eleven store Friday, as the date is 7/11, the newspaper said.

Calder said the international Slurpee capital title goes to the urban market area for sales of the highest number of "cups on average per store," and Kennewick is about 100 cup sales behind Winnipeg, the Sun reported.