Yum! Brands World's Largest Restaurant Company & Parent Of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Launches Global Movement To Stop World Hunger In Support O

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October 10, 2007 // Franchising.com // LOUISVILLE, KY - Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM), parent of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, today launched the world's largest hunger relief effort in an attempt to help stop world hunger. Called "World Hunger Relief Week," the program supports the United Nations World Food Programme, the frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. During October 14-20, 35,000 company and franchised restaurants located in 112 countries will be participating in some way, including KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food.

More than 850 million people know what it is like to go to bed hungry in all corners of the globe. More people die from hunger each year than from war, tuberculosis and AIDS combined. In fact, every five seconds, a child somewhere dies from hunger.

The company partnered with the U.N. World Food Programme, the world's leading humanitarian agency feeding 90 million poor people, including 58 million hungry children, in 80 of the world's poorest communities.

Yum! hopes to raise awareness of the hunger problem, mobilize nearly 1,000,000 employees across its company and franchise system to volunteer their efforts, and raise funds from the more than 125 million customers that visit its restaurants each week. Yum! Brands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David C. Novak, will lead a massive volunteerism movement by dedicating volunteer service at a food bank in Louisville, Kentucky. All other above restaurant leaders are being given a day of community service during the week to volunteer their time, and restaurant employees are encouraged to hold fund raising drives and food collections as well.

The Yum! Foundation also will be donating to the cause by covering the WFP's low administrative fee so that all funds collected from customers and employees will go directly toward purchasing a nutritious school meal or food for the world's hungry. It costs the WFP just $.19 per day on average to feed a hungry child a nutritious school lunch meal. With funds raised, the company hopes to save hundreds of thousands of people from starvation.

During World Hunger Relief Week, Yum! plans to generate the equivalent of nearly $50 million worth of awareness through television and print advertising, public service announcements, public relations, web-based communications and in-restaurant posters and signage. The integrated marketing materials will be available in English and translated into nine different languages, including English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, German, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese.

"World hunger is a problem of epic proportions, and unfortunately it is increasing each day. As the world's largest restaurant company, we believe it is our privilege and responsibility to use our clout and make a difference in the lives of others less fortunate who are starving around the globe," said David C. Novak, Yum! Brands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Our World Hunger Relief efforts will continue year after year. Our goal is to create a global movement to help stop the dying, and start the living. We believe we can truly make a difference in the lives of others by helping them move from hunger to hope."

Yum! and its brands have been committed to fighting hunger for more than a decade by donating $50 million of prepared food annually to the underprivileged in the United States. The company also has been the primary sponsor of the Dare To Care Food Bank based in Louisville, Kentucky for seven years. Its employees donate thousands of hours each year to the food bank. The company is now expanding these efforts on a global scale through the creation of World Hunger Relief Week. The initiative coincides with the company's 10th anniversary as a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. It was spun-off from PepsiCo in October, 1997.

World Hunger Relief Week addresses the harsh reality that there are 850 million people suffering from hunger every day. The situation has become worse than ever due to the convergence of: rising commodities and higher global food prices; increased competition for products that produce energy; severe droughts and flood due to climate change; a surge in conflict and wars as well as a growing population. At the rate things are going, food prices are expected to jump 35% over the next two years, thereby decreasing the number of people fed.

"This campaign will raise awareness among tens of millions of people around the world," said Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Programme, who added that the world's largest humanitarian organization will use any funds raised to fund its greatest needs. "With demographic trends, climate change and soaring commodity prices -- the challenges of feeding the hungry are increasing," she said, adding that innovative approaches to public awareness and fundraising are critical.

The efforts of Yum! and its five brands are making it possible for funds to go directly to feeding people in WFP's areas of greatest need - such as expanding school feeding programs to serve more children and families; providing essential food assistance to new mothers and their infants and increasing school attendance among girls by providing take-home food rations.

The company is leveraging the power of the internet to reach millions of people through the www.fromhungertohope.com website and other on-line activity. The interactive web site includes information about hunger, the WFP, how to donate to World Hunger Relief Week, updates on WFP outreach activities, Google mashup map highlighting volunteer updates from around the world and much more.

"I'm incredibly proud of the passion that our global team has for this critical initiative," said Novak who has visited poverty-stricken areas in Guatemala and seen the needs firsthand. Novak is donating all proceeds from his newly released book, The Education of an Accidental CEO - Lessons Learned from the Trailer Park to the Corner Office (Crown Publishing) to the World Food Programme.

PERSPECTIVES ON WORLD HUNGER RELIEF WEEK

Hunger Relief Agencies
"America's Second Harvest, The Nation's Food Bank Network, is dedicated to ending hunger in our country and appreciates the support YUM! Brands has provided in that effort. By forming this new partnership and launching World Hunger Relief Week, you are now taking the fight against hunger global and making it possible to get the world's food from where it is to where it needs to be - in the hands of those suffering from hunger."
Vicki Escarra
President and Chief Executive Officer
America's Second Harvest - Chicago, IL

"YUM! Brands helps City Harvest feed some of the more than one million New Yorkers who turn to emergency food programs each year. City Harvest has ensured that the nearly 200,000 pounds of food donated by KFC and Pizza Hut since the beginning of our partnership has reached the people who need it most."
Jennifer McLean
Vice President of Operations
City Harvest - New York City, NY

"YUM! Brands has long served a leadership role in the donation of wholesome surplus food at the local restaurant level. Pizza Hut, in 1992, was the first foodservice chain to donate on a nationwide basis. Donation programs were expanded to KFC in 1996 and Taco Bell and Long John Silvers' in 2002. Today, Yum's restaurant prepared food donation programs are the largest in the U.S., providing over 12 million pounds of food last year. "
Bill Reighard
President
Food Donation Connection - Knoxville, TN

"The Dare to Care Food Bank is dedicated to ending hunger here in Louisville, and we appreciate the support that YUM! Brands has provided us in that effort over the years. I commend you, your employees, and the World Food Program for your efforts to alleviate global hunger through "World Hunger Relief Week."
Linda Miller
Executive Director
Dare to Care Food Bank - Louisville, KY

"Jude 22 connected with YUM! Brand's food donation program in 2001…this food allows us to feed homeless citizens through the Salvation Army, St. Vincent's and Freedom of Praise Churches. (Your support makes it possible for us) to feed more than 500 people a week."
Hattie M. Soil
Operations Manager
Jude 22 - Las Vegas, NV

"Having the help of YUM! Brand's donated food program has had an impact on our lives as well as those we serve in this community. We are so thankful for the food that comes through your program, to see the many children's faces light up when we come with all those pan pizzas, KFC complete chicken dinners and much more."
Dr. Sharloett Gomez
Emmanuel Outreach Temple - La Habra, CA

"We collect enough of the Pizza Hut and KFC items to serve three meals a week! And we serve 500 people at each meal. That is 1500 free meals that would otherwise be thrown away if these restaurants didn't donate to our organization. We are able to help other agencies with feeding programs when we collect over the amount we need to serve three meals a week."
Stephanie Paine
Director of Food Service
San Diego Rescue Mission

"The food provided by YUM! Brands has enabled us to provide thousands of meals to hungry kids at Island Harvest. We could not provide the services we do without caring partners like YUM! Brands. On behalf of all of us at Island Harvest, thank you for your concern, commitment and willingness to help your neighbors in need."
Migdalia Otero
Director of Operations
Island Harvest - New York City, NY

"Your generous gifts of food have been served to those in need throughout Central Florida. Thousands continue to be fed because you cared enough to give."
Richard Giaquinto
Director of Operations
The Christian Service Center for Central Florida

"In our shelter which can house up to 500 residents, you have truly been an asset to our residents as we serve over 1200 meals per day. We cannot imagine how we would feed all of our guests without the fabulous support of the YUM! Brands donated food program."
Rev. Robert Sweeney
Executive Director
Dallas Life Foundation

Government Leaders
"I appreciate the commitment of YUM! Brands to ending global hunger, and I commend your involvement with World Hunger Relief Week. Through your participation in World Hunger Relief Week, you not only promote awareness of this issue, but also raise funds to feed hundreds of children around the globe."
The Honorable Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Republican Leader - United States Senate

"Hunger is the most extreme form of poverty, where individuals or families cannot afford to meet their most basic need for food. I am pleased that your organizations will work to improve people's commitment to global poverty issues and raise funds to fight hunger."
The Honorable Harry Reid
Majority Leader - United States Senate

I would like to commend you for your charitable initiative with the World Food Program (WFP) to fight global hunger through "World Hunger Relief Week." It is through these cooperative efforts that individuals, communities and businesses come together to produce effective long-term solutions to this problem."
The Honorable Roy Blunt (R-MO)
House Republican Whip

"With the World Hunger Relief Week, YUM! Brands - it franchisees, employees and customers here in Texas and world-wide - will help make it possible to get food from where it is available to where it is needed."
The Honorable Rick Perry
Governor, State of Texas

"Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim the week of October 14, 2007, as World Hunger Relief Week."
The Honorable Jennifer M. Granholm
Governor, State of Michigan
From a proclamation commending YUM! for launching World Hunger Relief Week

"It gives me great pleasure to lend my strong support to "World Hunger Relief Week," sponsored by the World Food Program and YUM! Brands. Around the world, and here in America, combating hunger remains one of our most pressing social challenges. Through programs such as this we can come together to begin to help relieve this suffering."
The Honorable Christine O. Gregoire
Governor, State of Washington

"I commend YUM! Brands for the role it has played in assisting the World Food Program to achieve its goals of assisting the hungry throughout the world. The partnership between the WFP and YUM! Brands will help untold numbers of hungry people in the world by offering basic resources to those who need them most."
The Honorable Mitch Daniels
Governor, State of Indiana

"Yum! Brands has donated millions of pounds of food to feed the hungry in our country for many years. Winning the fight against global hunger will require the efforts of citizens, government and private companies, and the World Hunger Relief initiative expand this company's long-term commitment to that fight."
The Honorable Joe Manchin III
Governor, State of West Virginia

"Resolved by Senator Dick Ackerman and President Pro Tempore of the Senate Don Perata, that YUM! Brands be commended on its efforts to eliminate hunger through its contributions of food in California and beyond, and applauded for the programs that its franchisee partners have supported in the communities in which they operate."
California State Resolution
September 25, 2007

"Resolved by the Speaker of the California State Assembly Fabian Nunez and Assembly Republican Leader Michael Villines, that YUM! Brands be commended on its efforts to eliminate hunger through its contributions of food in California and beyond, and applauded for the programs that its franchisee partners have supported in the communities in which they operate."
California Assembly Resolution
October 2, 2007

"Now, therefore, I, Ernie Fletcher, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, do hereby proclaim October 14-20, 2007 as World Hunger Relief Week in Kentucky, and encourage my fellow citizens to support this effort by giving generously of their time and monetary donations to thwart the issue of hunger."
The Honorable Ernie Fletcher
Governor - Commonwealth of Kentucky

"Resolved, that the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commend the World Food Program and YUM! Brands for their efforts to combat hunger in this country and around the world and encourage support for this effort as well as other efforts to combat hunger."
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Resolution
October 3, 2007

Hunger Relief Thought Leaders
"I congratulate Yum! Brands and the World Food Program (WFP) for organizing World Hunger Relief Week, a global campaign aimed at increasing awareness about hunger and raising funds to feed the world's poor. Innovative partnerships between the public and private sector - such as World Hunger Relief Week - can help successfully address the problem of hunger by reaching more of those in need."
The Honorable George McGovern
Former United States Senator
Former US Ambassador to the UN Food and Agriculture Agency

"On behalf of the Congressional Hunger Center (CHC), I commend YUM! Brands and the World Food Program (WFP) for your efforts to alleviate global hunger through "World Hunger Relief Week." CHC's mission is "fighting hunger by developing leaders" and we recognize your leadership role and that of YUM! Brands in this promising new initiative."
Edward M. Cooney
Executive Director
Congressional Hunger Center - Washington, DC

"World Hunger Relief Week is an unprecedented response to the challenge of world hunger. It represents the largest consumer campaign in the history of the World Food Program (WFP). Congratulations to YUM! Brands on World Hunger Relief Week and the significant impact it will have in helping alleviate global hunger."
Marshall Matz
Chairman of the Board
Friends of the World Food Program - Washington, DC

"I commend YUM! Brands and the World Food Program (WFP) for their efforts to alleviate global hunger through World Hunger Relief Week. Unfortunately, hunger remains a pressing social issue in America and around the globe. The good news is that through efforts like those of Yum! Brands and WFP, a solution to the problem is at hand."
Barbara Belmont
Executive Director
School Food Service Foundation and the School Nutrition Association

"This innovative campaign will raise awareness of global hunger, engage YUM! Brands employees and volunteers all over the world, and raise enough funds to help WFP feed the world's hungry poor, including hundreds of thousands of women and children in desperate need."
The Honorable John Block
Former United States Secretary of Agriculture

World Food Programme
Established in 1963, WFP is the United Nations frontline agency in the fight against global hunger. WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency: on average, each year, we give food to 90 million poor people to meet their nutritional needs, including 58 million hungry children, in 80 of the world's poorest countries. WFP - We Feed People.

Friends of the World Food Program (Friends of WFP) is a US-based non-profit organization dedicated to building support for the World Food Program (WFP) and other hunger relief efforts. WFP is the largest international food aid organization in the world and the United Nations' frontline agency in the fight against hunger. For more information, visit www.friendsofwfp.org.

Yum! Brands, Inc.
Yum! Brands Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, is the world's largest restaurant company in terms of system restaurants with over 35,000 restaurants, which includes over 2,000 licensed restaurants, in more than 100 countries and territories. Four of the company's restaurant brands -- KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Long John Silver's -- are the global leaders of the chicken, pizza, Mexican-style food and quick-service seafood categories respectively. Yum! Brands is the worldwide leader in multibranding, which offers consumers more choice and convenience at one restaurant location from a combination of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, A&W or Long John Silver's brands. The company and its franchisees today operate over 3,500 multibrand restaurants. Outside the United States in 2006, the Yum! Brands' system opened about three new restaurants each day of the year, making it one of the fastest growing retailers in the world. For the past four years, the company has been recognized as one of Fortune Magazine's "Top 50 Employers for Minorities." It also has been recognized as one of the "Top 50 Employers for Women" by Fortune, one of the "40 Best Companies for Diversity" by Black Enterprise Magazine for the past three years, one of Black Enterprise Magazine's "30 Hottest Franchises for 2006," one of the "Corporate 100 Companies Providing Opportunities for Hispanics" by Hispanic Magazine, one of the "Top 50 Corporations for Supplier Diversity" by Hispanic Trends Magazine and by BusinessWeek as one of the "Top 15 Companies for In-Kind Corporate Philanthropy."