Freebirds World Burrito Selected as Winner of the Nation’s Restaurant News Excellence in Television Advertising, EAT Award

Freebirds World Burrito, Texas’ favorite fresh fast casual restaurant known for its Monster burritos, was named a winner of the Nation’s Restaurant News Excellence in Television Advertising Award, sponsored by PepsiCo Foodservice. The category for which Freebirds is being honored is Best Commercial Produced for $10,000 or less.

The Excellence in Television (EAT) Awards are the only honors specifically recognizing advertising excellence in the restaurant industry. They specifically seek out advertising that stands out amid the hubbub of information and the bombardment of images in the world today. Winners will be announced during Nation’s Restaurant News’ 47th Annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators Conference (MUSFO) from October 15 to 18, 2006 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas. Winners will also be featured in Nation’s Restaurant News, the newsweekly of the foodservice industry.

Freebirds’ award-winning and unconventional ad was created by Austin-based Lyon Advertising. In the ad, Freebirds Fanatics (loyal Freebirds customers) Kate and Rita, who are caricatured in aluminum foil, tell the true story of their evacuation from New Orleans to Houston during Hurricane Katrina and their discovery and passion for Freebirds World Burrito.

“’It’s not normal’ has been our formula for doing business the Freebirds way for over 15 years,” said Alan Hixon, COO, Freebirds World Burrito. “Our ad campaigns are no different. We’re keenly aware that we don't have to paint a bulls-eye on someone’s forehead to be effective in advertising. Telling the stories of our Freebirds Fanatics is not only effectual, it’s truth in advertising.”

All campaigns and commercials were judged by a panel of leading advertising, production, media and creative executives. The winners were selected on the basis of creativity, originality and effective use of the advertising medium.

“Being named a winner of the Nation’s Restaurant News Excellence in Television Advertising is a significant achievement,” said Alan Gould, Publisher, Nation’s Restaurant News. “We are pleased to recognize and celebrate Freebirds World Burrito’s successful television advertising commercial.”

The winning Freebirds ad can be viewed by visiting www.freebirds.com, click Customer Experience, Bird Watching, then The Flood.

Details about the Nation’s Restaurant News Excellence in Television Advertising Award and MUSFO Conference are available at www.mufso.com.

About FREEB!RDS WORLD BURRITO
FREEB!RDS WORLD BURRITO, home of the Monster Burrito, is a privately owned company, headquartered in College Station, Texas. The company currently operates sixteen FREEB!RDS WORLD BURRITO restaurants in the state of Texas (Austin, College Station, Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Lubbock). FREEB!RDS WORLD BURRITO serves an “awe-inspiring experience” with each customized burrito.

FREEB!RDS lives by their motto “I’m not afraid of MONSTERS, I eat ‘em.”
For more information, visit www.freebirds.com.

About The EAT Awards
The awards for Excellence in Advertising on Television, sponsored by PepsiCo Foodservice, are the only honors specifically recognizing advertising excellence in the restaurant industry. Award categories are ranked by total system-wide sales

A panel of leading advertising, production, media and creative executives judge all campaigns and commercials. The winners are selected on the basis of creativity, originality and effective use of the advertising medium. Madigan & McManus, Inc., a full service marketing communications agency, administers the awards.