Ads Will Highlight Diverse Workforce, Franchisees and Suppliers
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 4, 2007--Burger King Corp. (NYSE:BKC) announced it has launched a marketing campaign highlighting its diversity and inclusion initiatives nationwide. The "Real People, Real Success" campaign shines the spotlight on BKC's diverse employees, suppliers and franchisees. The first ad from the campaign appeared during the National Council of La Raza's national conference in Miami (July 21-24), the premier event for Latinos, hosted by the largest Hispanic civil rights advocacy organization in the country.
With an initial focus on print ads, the campaign consists of a series of real-life testimonials of Hispanic, African American and Asian franchisees and suppliers. One ad - a stylized black-and-white portrait - highlights a Cuban-American businessman who began as a BK(R) restaurant employee and now owns almost 40 BURGER KING(R) restaurants. Another ad showcases an African American businesswoman who is one of BKC's largest suppliers. All the ads were designed to honor the diverse workforce and business partners who have made the BURGER KING(R) system one of the largest quick-service restaurant franchises in the world.
One of the success stories highlighted in the ads is Robespierre St. Juste, a BKC franchisee who rose through the ranks from an assistant manager position to become the owner of 15 BURGER KING(R) restaurants in San Antonio, Texas. "What started as a temporary job became an amazing and successful journey, filled with opportunity for growth and development. For the past 25 years, BURGER KING(R) restaurants have not only been my real job, they've also been my real life," said St. Juste, a native of Haiti.
"BKC is committed to showing its support for a diverse workforce and business partnerships," said Cirabel Lardizabal Olson, director of inclusion and external affairs, BKC. "One of our biggest strengths is our respect for inclusion, which helps reflect the demographics of our market today and our customers' reality."
The marketing and communications initiative was developed for Burger King Corporation by its Diversity and Inclusion agency, Republica.
About Burger King Corporation
The BURGER KING(R) system operates more than 11,200 restaurants in all 50 states and in 69 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. Approximately 90 percent of BURGER KING(R) restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of which are family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. To learn more about Burger King Corp. please visit the company's Web site at http://www.bk.com.
CONTACT: For Burger King Corporation, Miami
Republica
Marilu Del Toro, 305-442-0977
mdeltoro@republica.net
SOURCE: Burger King Corporation
Founded in 1954, the Burger King® brand is the second largest fast food hamburger chain in the world.