For the Second Straight Year, Wing Zone Named Official Sauce of U.S. Competitive Wing Eating Championships at the 5th Annual National Buffalo Wing Fes

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For the Second Straight Year, Wing Zone Named Official Sauce of U.S. Competitive Wing Eating Championships at the 5th Annual National Buffalo Wing Festival

Buffalo, NY – Organizers of the National Buffalo Wing Festival – the only nationally-recognized event showcasing an exclusive group of wing specialty restaurants around the country – announced today that for the second straight year it has chosen Wing Zone’s Medium Buffalo sauce as the official sauce for the United States Competitive Wing Eating Championships at the 5th annual event, to be held Sept. 2-3 in Buffalo, NY.

Being the “official sauce” for the festival means that Wing Zone’s Medium Buffalo sauce will be served on all wings used in the Buffalo and U.S. Competitive Wing Eating Championships held at the festival on Saturday night.

Wing Zone, a fast-growing takeout/delivery chain best noted for its 25 flavors of fresh, cooked-to-order Buffalo chicken wings, has played an increasingly valuable role in the festival since its infancy. In its first year participating, Wing Zone walked off with the “Most Creative Sauce” award (Garlic Parmesan), and since has been named “Out of Town Festival Favorite.” Additionally, Wing Zone was honored by former Buffalo Mayor Anthony M. Masiello when he proclaimed Sept. 2, 2005 as “Wing Zone Day” in Buffalo, NY. Wing Zone earned the proclamation for its consistent promotion of the National Buffalo Wing Festival and City of Buffalo -- in business and in community .

“The proclamation from Mayor Masiello meant a great deal to us,” said Stan Friedman, executive vice president of Wing Zone. “Virtually everything we do to promote our brand speaks to how it all began in 42 years ago in Buffalo. We view Buffalo as the Mecca of the wing business, as the city continues to welcome and embrace us year after year at the nationally recognized event.

Each year, National Buffalo Wing Festival founder/organizer, Drew Cerza, (a true PT Barnum of festival promotion) comes up with unique draws to highlight the festival. This year, a couple will be married at the festival to complement the already popular wing eating championships, with Wing Zone serving as the “Official Sauce.”

“Wing Zone has played an instrumental role in the growing success of the festival, offering support and fantastic wings to our efforts,” Cerza said. “For the second straight year, Wing Zone’s Medium Buffalo sauce has been designated as the official sauce for this year’s competitive eating championships, and Wing Zone has rightfully once again earned the title as the official representative at the festival for the state of Georgia,” noting that 30+ chicken wing specialty restaurants from around the country will participate in this year’s event.

“Last year, Eric “Badlands” Booker downed 137 wings in 12 minutes, this year we expect him to eclipse that record,” Friedman said. “Clearly, our sauce is just that smooth. We have won over the taste-buds of critical Buffalo wing fans and aficionados all over America, but when Buffalonians embrace your wings – you know you’ve got a great product.”

The National Buffalo Wing Festival has grown significantly since its inception in 2002. The idea for the festival sprang up when the movie, "Osmosis Jones," with Bill Murray, featured a fictional festival. When a local newspaper columnist who saw the movie questioned why no such real event exits, Cerza came to the rescue, setting the precedent for years of festivals to come.

About Wing Zone

Wing Zone was founded in 1991 at the University of Florida by Matt Friedman and Adam Scott, who cooked wings with homemade sauces in their fraternity house kitchen and delivered them to fellow college students. After expanding with several Wing Zone locations, Scott and Friedman began franchising Wing Zone in 1999. In 2003, the pair welcomed industry veteran Stan Friedman (no relation to Matt) as a third partner and named him Executive Vice President. As a strong advocate of urban development and minority outreach programs, Stan Friedman has been promoting diversity in franchising through governmental lobbying activities and as an active leader in the International Franchising Association’s Minorities in Franchising Committee. He also serves on the Boards of the Georgia Restaurant Association, the International Franchising Association’s Diversity Institute and is Chairman of the Board of the recently organized Atlanta Franchise Alliance.

Wing Zone currently has more than 80 locations open, with 30 more in development, many of which will be open by the end of 2006. While earning customer loyalty from consumers nationwide, Wing Zone is also receiving accolades from, community, food service and franchise industry insiders as well. In fact, Wing Zone was rated a Top 20 New Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine, included in Bond’s Top 100 Franchise Opportunities, ranked in Franchise Times’ Fast 55 and was recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing, privately held companies in America. For more information about Wing Zone or the festival, visit www.wingzone.com or www.buffalowing.com.