ARAMARK "All-Star" Vendors To Showcase Their Skills at 83rd Mid-Summer Classic

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- When hungry baseball fans descend on Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium for the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, many will have a chance to speak with an All-Star, without leaving the comfort of their seat. The 2012 All-Star Game will showcase the league's best in-seat vendors, who will make the trip from their hometown ballparks, to serve the fans in the stands.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110907/PH63208LOGO )

ARAMARK, which partners with the Kansas City Royals and ten other MLB teams to provide food and beverage services, has selected a master vendor from each of its ballparks to serve fans at Kauffman Stadium during the 83rd Mid-Summer Classic.

Totaling almost 200 years of experience, this year's All-Star vendor roster features 11 ARAMARK employees who possess a passion for unparalleled customer service and a knack for serving a high volume of fans on a nightly basis. The All-Star hawkers have been awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to Kansas City, where they will serve fans during the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game. They will also lead a "Vendors in Training" event for 100 children at the Don Bosco Youth Development Center in Kansas City, an ARAMARK Building Community partner that aims to help youth make better choices, feel empowered, enhance leadership skills, and take ownership of their neighborhood. 

"Our All-Star vendors are the best in baseball and exceed fans' expectations at every game," said Marc Bruno, President of ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment. "We are honored to bring our All-Stars together, to reward them for their great work and to make this year's All-Star Game experience even more enjoyable for fans."

This year marks the eighth time ARAMARK has sent All-Star vendors to the MLB All-Star Game. The 11 vendors will be among the 120 hawkers who will vend food and beverages to fans in their seats during All-Star Weekend events.

The 2012 ARAMARK All-Star Vendors include:

• Duane Mitchell, Angel Stadium (10 years)
• Edward Calhoun, Citi Field (11 years)
• Andrew Reddin, Citizens Bank Park (10 years), second All-Star appearance
• Tom Stolzenberger, Coors Field (19 years)
• Chris Plunkett, Fenway Park (13 years)
• Gary Tindall, Jr., Kauffman Stadium (4 years)
• Minner Ford, Minute Maid Park (21 years), second All-Star appearance
• Soma Morgan, O.co Coliseum (15 years)
• Stephen Ruggiero, PNC Park (37 years)
• Damien Clarke, Rogers Centre (4 years)
• Richard Cooper, Turner Field (34 years)

"I am honored to be recognized and am excited to represent my home ballpark, Kauffman Stadium, as an All-Star vendor," said Gary Tindall, Jr., ARAMARK's host All-Star vendor for 2012. "My fellow vendors and I look forward to participating in the All-Star festivities and creating some lasting memories for fans."

Additional information about ARAMARK's 2012 All-Star Game menus and programs is available at www.ballparkfoods.com.

ARAMARK partners with 13 Major League Baseball teams to provide food and beverage, retail and/or facilities services -- Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays.

About ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment

ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment creates remarkable experiences for guests at over 150 premier sports facilities, convention centers and entertainment venues throughout North America.  With industry-leading insight, ARAMARK designs innovative hospitality, dining and catering, retail merchandise, and facility service programs that deliver valuable business results.  Learn more at www.aramarkentertainment.com or follow us at www.twitter.com/ARAMARKsports.

About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. The company is recognized as one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by the Ethisphere Institute, one of the "World's Most Admired Companies," by FORTUNE magazine and one of America's Largest Private Companies by both FORTUNE and Forbes magazines. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 250,000 employees serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at www.twitter.com/aramarknews.

Contact:
David Freireich
215-238-4078
[email protected]

Erin Noss
215-409-7403
[email protected]

SOURCE ARAMARK