Wingstop and Coca-Cola sign multi-year beverage agreement

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb 21, 2008 -
DALLAS –  Wingstop has signed a multi-year renewal of its existing beverage contract with The Coca-Cola Company. Under the terms of the agreement Coca-Cola FoodService, the division of Coca-Cola North America that serves the restaurant and foodservice industry, will supply Wingstop stores nationwide with beverage brands including Coke®, Diet Coke® and Sprite®.
“Coca-Cola brings a full range of products and support, including marketing and consumer insights, as well as the best fountain drinks for Wingstop restaurant customers,” said  Andy Howard, Wingstop executive vice president of marketing, purchasing and R&D. “We know they’ll be great partners to help us grow our business and our profits.”

“Wingstop's beverage sales have climbed year after year after year, for the past five years, a significant contributing factor to our overall comp store sales being up for 18 consecutive quarters," said Howard.

"Wingstop is a great concept run by great people.  It is our privilege to support their growth with great beverages,” said Bill Adams, area vice president for Coca-Cola Foodservice.

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 made from 100 percent all-white meat chicken breast coated with a proprietary batter and breading.  Wingstop features nine wing flavors: 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 also can 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 chosen Wing King at the 2006 National Buffalo Wing Festival, Favorite Restaurant at the 2005 festival and Wingstop’s 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 18 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 www.wingstop.com or e-mail areadevelopment@wingstop.com.