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Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® Announces 2010 Freedom Week Successes

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

NC restaurant brand and its customers continue support of North Carolina military with Freedom Week tweets and tees

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® (SCNB) has announced the results from its 2010 Freedom Week promotion – an annual campaign that the restaurant brand promotes each July celebrating our nation’s independence, while supporting members of the United States military. Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q®’s Freedom Week 2010 began Friday, July 2nd, 2010 and lasted until Friday, July 9th, 2010.

So just how successful was this year’s Freedom Week campaign? The following is a look at this year’s campaign results:
Tweet for Troops
If you ask users of Twitter, the popular micro-blogging service, the 2010 Freedom Week campaign was a social media success. Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® (@SCNBNC) measured 2,156 tweets and RTs (retweets) mentioning the trending topic of #FreedomWeek during the seven day campaign – netting a $215.60 donation to the Fort Bragg Soldiers and Family Assistance Center from the North Carolina restaurant brand.

Commemorative T-Shirts
Fundraiser t-shirts, were promoted at all Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q locations for $14.95, a portion of which benefitted the Fort Bragg Soldiers and Family Assistance Center. Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® is proud to announce that $1,058.87 will be donated to the Warrior Transition Battalion and the Soldier and Family Assistance Center on behalf of this part of the 2010 Freedom Week campaign. Shirts can still be purchased online at http://scnbnc.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3 (and in select locations) for anyone who missed the opportunity earlier this summer. Martha Brown, of the Fort Bragg Soldiers and Family Assistance Center, notes that the nearly $1300 contribution from Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® will go a long way in supporting the Soldiers and Family Assistance Center, its morale programming, and other resources benefiting North Carolina soldiers.

2010 Freedom Run
Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® was proud to be a part of the inaugural 5k Freedom Run, hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary in Wake Forest, as a presenting sponsor. The run was held on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010, with proceeds supporting veterans past and present along with active military personnel. Anne Deal, race coordinator, reports that the run contributed nearly $3,000 for their cause and welcomed 182 race-day participants to Historic Downtown Wake Forest. “The Wounded Warrior Project at Ft. Bragg, The Fisher House at Ft. Bragg, and The Raleigh Vet Center will be receiving donations as a result of this event,” added Deal. “All three organizations assist current or retired military and their families and will be able to put these funds immediately to work. We are looking forward to planning our second run for next year!” Pictures from the event can be viewed on Smithfield Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q®’s flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scnbnc/sets/72157624421074184/.

Military Rideshare
Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® also engaged their power of their fan base by spreading the word amongst fans of the popular NC bar-b-q brand about MilitaryRideShare.com. MilitaryRideShare.com is a free website that has been designed by a former Marine to provide a place for Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Soldiers to connect online for coordinating shared rides and travel. The program aims to save those making similar trips money on transportation costs. “I can’t express how appreciative I am that Smithfield’s invited us to be a part of this campaign. North Carolina, as a state, has the second highest number of military bases in the country, so this was a great opportunity for us to create exposure for our mission and we certainly have enjoyed seeing an increase in website traffic”, notes Jennifer McGillis, founder of MilitaryRideShare.com.

“Even as the economy has experienced some significant downturns and a slow recover over the past few years, our customers have always supported our goal of remaining ‘grateful to serve those who serve’”, says Richard Averitte, Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q®’s Marketing Director. “Every day we tell folks we have the best customers in the world – and their continued support year after year of our Freedom Week campaign further proves that to be true.”

For more information on the 5k Freedom Run, contact Anne Deal, race coordinator for the American Legion Auxiliary at littledeal@earthlink.net. For more information on the Fort Bragg Soldiers and Family Assistance Center, please contact Martha Brown at 910-643-6652. For more information on MilitaryRideShare.com, please visit http://www.MilitaryRideShare.com/.

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Grateful to Serve Those Who Serve

Monday, July 5th, 2010

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® (SCNB) is putting the service front and center during “Freedom Week” this summer. Not just customer service—the military service.

Tradition. Service. Families getting together. It doesn’t get much better than celebrating being reunited – just add bar-b-q and some sweet tea.

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® is taking this service promotion to a whole new level.

Like its authentic Eastern style bar-b-q—with a savory, vinegary flavor— Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® has a unique and longstanding relationship with the armed forces. With locations in all the military hot spots across North Carolina, the restaurant brand has long served the troops with the motto “grateful to serve those who serve.” The restaurant has developed a strong base of real bar-b-q fans, both in its 33 locations across North Carolina, and from Coast to Coast who order it online.

Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® sends bar-b-q all over the map through its online store, and this year’s Freedom Week campaign encompasses the internet in a whole new way for the company. Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® kicked off its annual seven day “Freedom Week” campaign for its restaurants on July 2nd, focusing efforts on one initiative—supporting the troops. Via its huge social media following, the company is undertaking a pretty audacious goal in its Twitter campaign: Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® will donate 10¢ to the Wounded Warriors Project for every mention or retweet of #FreedomWeek (that’s a Twitter “hashtag”, used to monitor topics on the microblogging service) during Freedom Week (July 2nd-July 9th).

The Wounded Warriors Project raises awareness and assistance for the needs of severely injured service men and women with the objective to provide tangible support to get them on the road to healing, both physically and mentally.

“Much like a backyard bar-b-q, our military also has a unique quality that brings people together,” said Richard Averitte, Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® Marketing Director. “People rally around our troops, as they should, and we are so pleased to be able to help facilitate that community connection—not just in our own North Carolina community, but across the country by means of the internet!”

In fact the brand has truly fostered a tremendous network through its blog, social media efforts, and face-to-face relationships with repeat customers. One of those loyal customers also happens to be former Marine Jen (Schmidt) McGillis. McGillis became a “fan” on Facebook, shared her story with Averitte, and an idea grew.

McGillis founded Military Ride Share, which is dedicated to “helping military members who are going in the same direction, ride together and hopefully save some green.” Since the site’s launch, over 600 service members or their family members have signed up with representation in all branches of service, including the Coast Guard. “Having taken pains to determine the best way to ship bar-b-q all over the country, it just made sense to me for Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® to aid McGillis’ efforts in facilitating the movement of troops around the country—and eventually home,” said Averitte.

There’s a Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® near every military base in North Carolina, and this summer is a hot one—perfect for a summer picnic or just gathering together. Join Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q®’s efforts in supporting the troops and bringing people together. A simple “tweet” will help bring healing to those who serve to help keep America free.

Pictures below are from the very first Freedom Run 5K that took place on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010, in Wake Forest, NC. Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q® was honored to serve as a sponsor for this event – supporting our neighbors in service during the holiday weekend. To see more pictures from this event, please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/scnbnc/sets/72157624421074184/.

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