Orlando Predators Win National Burger Battle Championship

ORLANDO, FL, June 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In just under twelve minutes, a new National Burger Battle Champion was crowned.  And it was a team skilled in speed that took home the top prize.  The Orlando Predators, Orlando's Arena Football Team, beat the Orlando Firefighters as well as more than 60 other teams across the country, to win the competition.  The team of six finished in First Place in the timed relay eating contest, finishing their burgers in 11 minutes and 49 seconds.  Along with the title, the team will receive an additional $5,000 for its charity, Summer of Dreams.  While the Predators were the fastest nationally, two firefighter teams were hot on their heels.  In Woodbridge, VA (Washington, D.C. metro area) the Prince William Fire Department came in Second Place with a time of 14:12, and the Margate Fire Department near Ft. Lauderdale, FL finished in Third Place at 14:33.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130624/DC37369)

This is the third year Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill has organized and sponsored the national event.  Across the country teams in 32 markets, firefighters, police officers, sports teams and others went to battle.  The Burger Battle was developed to honor the Smokey Bones Build Your Own Burgers, with burgers being America's most popular food item, while at the same time generating fun and helping raise money for local charities.  So far this year, Smokey Bones has raised more than $30,000 for charities as part of the event.  And the donations will continue to be collected at Smokey Bones restaurants across the country all this month when guests order any of the specialty burgers being featured on the menu.

Roger Drake, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill is thrilled with the results. "All the teams were really excited to be part of this event," said Drake.  "They battled hard to raise funds for their charities, and we all had a lot of fun in the process.  Now we begin the task of making next year's annual Burger Battle event even bigger and better."

Smokey Bones, the favorite choice for food, drinks, and fun, is a full-service bar and fire-grill restaurant that operates 65 locations in 17 states and employs nearly 4,000 people. It is owned by an affiliate of Boca Raton, Fla.-based Sun Capital Partners, whose portfolio of restaurants also includes Boston Market, Friendly's, Sweet Tomatoes, Fazoli's, Bar Louie and other restaurant brands representing approximately 2,000 locations and over $2.0 billion in sales. For more information on Smokey Bones, visit www.SmokeyBones.com.

Contact: 
Lisa Sweeney
Brokaw Inc.   
614.570.5757   [email protected]

SOURCE Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill