Mayor Of Bellevue, Neb. Proclaims June 12 Jack Link's® Jerky Day

MINONG, Wis., June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor Rita Sanders officially proclaimed today, June 12, 2013 Jack Link's^® Jerky Day in the City of Bellevue, Neb. during the opening ceremonies of this week's Omaha Baseball Youth Series — moments before more than 1,000 packages of Jack Link's Jerky, equipped with mini-parachutes, dropped from a helicopter, delivering a delicious, high protein snack.

The proclamation and surprise jerky shower coincided with National Jerky Day, an official holiday celebrated annually on June 12. The day honors the rich history and nutritional benefits of premium quality jerky and commemorates the positive impact the company has had on Bellevue since entering the community in 2012.

A Meaty Surprise for Bellevue: Operation Sky Meat
To celebrate National Jerky Day and Jack Link's Jerky Day and show its appreciation to the residents of Bellevue, Jack Link's surprised and delighted thousands of spectators at Omaha Champions Village by gifting Jack Link's Jerky in a "wild," unique snack delivery dubbed "Operation Sky Meat."

To execute Operation Sky Meat, the brand dropped hundreds upon hundreds of bags of Jack Link's Jerky from a helicopter. A variety of great-tasting Jack Link's products parachuted out of the chopper, filling the sky with a never-before-seen spectacle of high-flying, protein-packed snacks and thrilling tournament participants and spectators.

"We are never short on ideas, and this one quickly rose to the top," said Kevin Papacek, director of marketing, Jack Link's Beef Jerky. "Operation Sky Meat — a mission to literally drop a massive amount of jerky from the sky to applaud the unconventional, the unexpected and the untamed spirit of the brand — was the first of many ways we celebrated National Jerky Day 2013. We are truly honored to celebrate this special holiday as well as Jack Link's Jerky Day with the residents of Bellevue and are proud to call the city home to our newest manufacturing facility."

In fall 2012, Jack Link's acquired a meat snacks manufacturing facility located in Bellevue. The move not only enabled the brand to increase its production capacity to meet growing consumer demand for Jack Link's products, but has also helped to provide further economic stability to the greater Bellevue area.

"The City of Bellevue was overjoyed when Jack Link's joined our community last year," said Mayor Sanders. "The brand's presence has introduced new jobs, generated additional tax revenue and fostered continued economic growth throughout the area. I'm happy to officially proclaim Wednesday, June 12 as Jack Link's Jerky Day in Bellevue to commemorate our mutually beneficial relationship and look forward to continuing to partner with Jack Link's for years to come."

National Jerky Day: Why It Matters
Americans love to snack. In fact, the average American consumes nearly three snacks each day. Jerky is a snacking staple:

• Meat snacks are the third highest-grossing sector within the overall salty snack category, outselling other popular salty snacks including popcorn and pretzels.¹
• Snacking accounts for more than 25 percent² of today's average calorie intake, so selecting the right snack is key. Quality jerky is naturally high in protein and low in calories, fat and carbohydrates.
• Contrary to popular belief, jerky is not just a "man's snack." Research shows that almost as many women as men snack on jerky.
• While beef jerky is more commonly known, today Jack Link's Beef Jerky offers more than 100 varieties made from premium cuts of beef, turkey, chicken and pork.
• Jerky is tender and comes in a variety of flavors and offerings to satisfy even the most discerning palate.

"There's no snack more deserving of its own special day than jerky," added Papacek. "In many ways, it's the ideal snack — naturally packed with protein, jerky will keep you satisfied between meals. And, since it's low in fat, calories and carbs, it won't sabotage a healthy diet. Plus, Jack Link's jerky is the perfect snack to fuel your own Wild Side adventures."

JACK LINK'S BEEF JERKY – Feed Your Wild Side.™
Headquartered in Minong, Wis., Jack Link's is the leader in the meat snack category and fastest-growing meat snack manufacturer worldwide. The Jack Link's brand represents a heritage of quality and consumer trust. Jack Link's offers more than 100 premium meat snack products at retail outlets in more than 40 countries.

Contacts:
Kaila Fiske
Jack Link's Beef Jerky
(612) 334-7414
[email protected]

Bob Ringer
Carmichael Lynch Spong
(612) 375-8548
[email protected]

SOURCE Jack Link's Beef Jerky