Wingstop announces ‘Wing Fanatic’ winner

PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 16, 2008 – DALLAS – Andy Howard, EVP of Marketing, Purchasing and R&D for Wingstop, announced today that DJ Troville of Houston has won the Wingstop Search for the Ultimate Wing Fanatic contest.

“This is the culmination of a six month-long contest that we ran to celebrate surpassing the billion wing mark this year,” said Howard.  “We feel we’ve sold over a billion wings for two major reasons, our nine proprietary wing flavors and our customers, who are the wing fanatics that are loyal to the flavors they love.”

Troville won the contest with his original composition “I’m a Wing Man” performed on acoustic guitar. The contest submission can be viewed at http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=1383697  and is also performed in the new Troy Aikman commercial which should begin airing in the Summer of 2008 (details to be announced later).

“We had some very clever submissions and we enjoyed reviewing them all,” said Howard.

Finalists in the contest were Bethany Staller, Catherine Pratt, Emon Samsami, Makenzie Norwood and Cedric Dana.  Their submissions can be viewed along with Troville’s at www.wingstop.com/wingfanaticfinalists.

About Wingstop:
Wingstop offers restaurants with a nostalgic, aviation-themed atmosphere where the sole focus is on chicken wings.  The chain also serves boneless wing strips that are made from 100 percent all-white meat chicken breast coated with a proprietary batter and breading.  Wingstop features nine wing flavors, including Original Hot, Cajun, Atomic, Mild, Teriyaki, Lemon Pepper, Hawaiian, Garlic Parmesan, and Hickory Smoked BBQ. The wings are always made-to-order and served steaming hot. Customers can also choose from homemade side dishes including fresh-cut seasoned fries, bourbon baked beans, pearl potato salad, creamy cole slaw, vegetable sticks, rolls and assorted dipping sauces.

Wingstop has more than 600 restaurants either open or under development in 28 states and consistently tops industry growth rankings. Wingstop is 125th on Entrepreneur’s 2008 Franchise 500 list. The chain was also recognized as the Most Innovative Company in 2007 by the American Business Awards, crowned Wing King at the 2006 National Buffalo Wing Festival, Favorite Restaurant at the 2005 festival and their Cajun sauce took first place honors for the Best Creative Spicy Sauce in the festival’s blind taste test.  In July 2005, Wingstop ranked No. 13 in Restaurant Business’ Top 50 Growth Chains (ranked by percentage increase in units) and was ranked the No. 1 chicken wing chain by Entrepreneur magazine in 2005.  Troy Aikman, three-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Fame quarterback, has served as the chain’s national spokesman since 2003. Aikman extended his contract in 2006 for three years, as Wingstop has posted 17 consecutive quarters of comp store sales increases since the partnership.

For Franchise Information:
For Wingstop franchise and franchise event information, call (972) 686-6500, visit wingstop.com or e-mail areadevelopment@wingstop.com.