Slush Sensation: Exploring the Cool World of Flavoured Ice
By Meline Beach
Summer heat is around the corner and with it comes the allure of a chilled beverage. It’s no surprise that frozen drink sales reach their peak volume in the summer months, and if you want to get ahead of the season and plan your offering of frozen beverages, now is the perfect time.
The modern c-store has a long list of cool beverages on tap, but sometimes the classics appeal to consumers the most. Flavoured ice drinks are a multi-generation favourite, dating back to the 1950s. Commonly called slush, slushie, slushee, or by brand names ICEE and Slurpee, they are available as carbonated or non-carbonated.
Call it what you want, these icy treats are often associated with fun and enjoyment, making them a popular choice for children and adults alike. They provide a cool and refreshing treat during hot summer days, helping consumers beat the heat and stay hydrated. Available in a variety of flavours, consumers have many options to choose from to satisfy their taste preferences and cravings. And, what better place to offer consumers this refreshing treat than the local c-store, known for convenience and choice for on-the-go consumption during outdoor activities or while running errands.
Where To Begin – Equipment & Maintenance
“The Taylor Model 349, four barrel frozen carbonated beverage (FCB) slush machine stands out as the preferred choice for retail chain leaders in Canada,” says Judi Saliba, senior sales executive with TFI Canada. “The four-barrel variant is a popular entry-level choice with experienced C&G retailers choosing this model in multiples – up to 16 barrels of FCB in some markets.”
Offering a rich, heavy FCB that aligns with consumer preferences, Taylor ensures customer satisfaction with hassle-free installation. Operators need only to provide mechanical necessities, such as water and syrup lines, and power supply. Taylor’s technicians take care of the rest, offering installation, start-up, and training services anywhere in Canada.
“The machines require less than a meter of floor space (31”) to offer the highest margins of anything in a convenience store,” says Saliba. “Our machines are fast and efficient, and proven to have the longest field life in the market – an average field life of 15 years.”
Ping Tan of Tanny’s Convenience in Matheson, Ontario, is happy with her Taylor Frozen Drink Machine model 428-12. Purchased over 10 years ago, she says it was the best investment she’s ever made.
“I researched equipment options and felt Taylor was the best brand for me,” says Tan. “I buy quality equipment, made to last, and produce quality output for my staff and customers.”
Saliba explains that operating a Taylor slush machine requires minimal but crucial maintenance to ensure maximum field life. This includes tasks such as changing the syrup BIBs, cleaning the unit 10 times a year, and replacing worn parts. Operators can perform these tasks themselves or request service from their network of expert technicians, employed directly by TFI.
The machine is easy to maintain with automatic defrost cycles and removable air filters. It also notifies users through lights and sounds to indicate any operational issues.
Tan cleans her frozen beverage machine every two weeks.
Return on Investment
The potential return on investment (ROI) offered by frozen beverage machines makes them a serious piece of equipment in c-stores, especially during the summer months.
“Sales of 30 units a day should provide ROI within two years with a field life of 15 years,” says Saliba. “The equipment is available for purchase or finance through a third-party leasing company that we partner with.”
Tan’s experience with her slushie offering has been quite positive. Due to long, cold winters in Timmins, Ontario, Tan offers slushies only six months of the year – from April to September. However, within that timeframe, she can easily average 100 sales a day in the heat of the summer and managed to recoup her $16,000 investment after one year of purchase.
“Speed and quality are very important for our business,” says Tan. “Our machine can produce enough ice for 15 cups before making more and it takes less than 30 seconds to fulfill an order.”
Flavours
“We’ve got the best slushies in and around town,” says Tan, whose full-service slushie program features over 24 flavour options, the most popular being blue raspberry. “People of all ages travel great distances to buy slushies at my store – from students to cottagers, slushies are for everyone.”
According to Saliba, cola and lemon/lime flavours are a mainstay and consumers very much enjoy the ‘wacky’ flavour combinations. “Children especially love to mix and match their flavours but are well aware of any inconsistency in the taste.”
Creating unique flavour combinations enables consumers to express creativity and personalization – enhancing overall taste and colour sensations.
The Future Of Slush
Heading into the next decade, experts forecast continued growth and innovation within the slush market. According to a report by Market Reports World (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/slush-machine-market-size-share-forecast/), “By 2030, the global slush machine market size is projected to reach multimillion figures,” with North America and Europe continuing to be the largest consumer market for slushies.
Flavour offerings play a key role in slushie sales. In recent years, the popularity of iced coffee has influenced coffee-based slush offerings. Some retailers even offer seasonal or themed slushie flavours such as Candy Crush and Blood Orange for Halloween.
With an array of enticing flavours, efficient equipment, and simplified maintenance, slushies are a staple in c-stores, especially for the summer season, and have proven to be a refreshing and profitable option for retailers.
Meline Beach is a Toronto-based communications practitioner and frequent contributor to Convenience and Carwash Canada. In addition to freelance writing, Meline provides communications and public relations support to businesses across Canada. She can be reached at www.mlbcomms.ca.
