Unmatched quality and freshness make new menu item a tasty complement to longtime menu favorites

(Cary, NC) – Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® (SCNB) is proud to announce that the North Carolina-based restaurant brand has for the first time in 40 years added a fresh new item to its menu: jumbo chicken tenders!

Known across the state as the home of fresh fried chicken and eastern North Carolina style bar-b-q, the addition of fresh, never frozen, hand-breaded, all white meat jumbo chicken tenders is a complementary addition to the fast casual restaurant brand’s classic menu offerings. Jumbo chicken tenders make not only a tasty, easy-to-handle meal for younger patrons, but also are a lunchtime favorite for many, and a welcome addition to dinner plates accompanied by eastern NC bar-b-q, hushpuppies, potato salad, slaw, Brunswick stew, and of course – Smithfield Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q®’s famous sweet tea. Jumbo chicken tenders are now available individually, as a boneless tender sandwich, as a meal paired with hushpuppies and choice of sides, or as an addition to combination plates.

“Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q prides itself on not only having a longstanding history as a quality, family-friendly restaurant, but also on having a menu that isn’t subject to trends. Our patrons know that when they join us at Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q, that they’re going to enjoy a fresh, quality meal that is as enjoyable as every visit made in the past”, says Richard Averitte, Marketing Director for Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q. “So when we make the decision to add a new featured menu item, patrons know that we have selected a product that not only meets, but also surpasses, our goals for exceptional quality, freshness, and taste.”

The jumbo chicken tenders have been quietly popping up in Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® locations around the state over the past few months as the restaurant brand has eased into the offering of a new menu item. Now that the jumbo chicken tenders have become a fixed menu item in all locations, SCNB is encouraging fans to “Stop in a try a tender!” with a springtime promotion that offers diners a chance to win a $10.00 Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® gift card in exchange for posting a picture on twitter, facebook, or a blog. (Tender-tasters can also submit a picture of their experience to Comments@SCNBNC.com to be entered into the contest, as well.) Winners will be drawn at random weekly through May 31, 2011.

For more information on Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q®, please visit http://www.SCNBNC.com, visit the brand’s facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SCNBNC, or stay updated with tweets from @SCNBNC on twitter (http://www.twitter.com/SCNBNC).

About Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q has a 40-year history of serving the finest fried chicken and Eastern-North-Carolina-style Bar-B-Q, made fresh daily from family recipes and served in a family-friendly atmosphere. Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q has over 30 locations in North Carolina as well as an online store where BBQ can be ordered and shipped anywhere in the United States. Visit http://www.SCNBNC.com/ for more information or call 919-852-1742.

Contact: Richard Averitte, Marketing Director, Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q

Phone:   919-852-1722      Fax: 919-852-5268     Email:              RAveritte@SCNBNC.com

Web:      http://www.SCNBNC.com Mail: P.O. Box 979 – Cary, NC 27512