In an exclusive deal announced Dec. 13, 7-Eleven and Stripes are the first stores to bring Jarritos Craft Soda to the soft drink fountain.
Up to now, the soft drink from Mexico has only been sold in a bottle. Mandarin, one of Jarritos’ most popular flavors, will be available on Big Gulp fountain machines at participating stores.
A mainstay at taquerias, Jarritos fruit-flavored craft sodas are made with natural flavors and 100 percent real sugar.
“We are always looking for new and interesting flavors for both Slurpee and fountain drinks by monitoring flavor trend experts as well as social media buzz,” said Jacob Barnes, senior product director for proprietary beverages for Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven. “When Jarritos Mandarin was such a hit on the Slurpee machine, we immediately began working to bring it back as a Big Gulp fountain drink.”
The Jarritos Mandarin-flavored Slurpee drink, which marked the first time the tangy and sweet soda was offered as a frozen beverage, rolled out last summer. Its popularity and social media chatter prompted 7-Eleven to bring it back, this time as a Big Gulp drink.
“Jarritos is not only the top-selling soft drink from Mexico, it’s also great tasting and has broad appeal among all ages and demographics,” Barnes said. “Once customers hear we have a Jarritos Big Gulp drink, I think they will visit our stores specifically to find it.”
Known for its colorful fruit-flavored sodas, the Jarritos soft drink company was founded in Mexico in 1950. By 1960, Jarritos had become the most popular national soft drink in Mexico. Sold in iconic glass bottles throughout the U.S., the brand offers 12 flavors, all made with natural flavors and real sugar: mandarin, tamarind, pineapple, fruit-punch, lime, grapefruit, strawberry, mango, guava, hibiscus, passion fruit, and watermelon. Jarritos is distributed in 37 countries around the world.
7‑Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 69,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America.
