Pilot Travel Centers Launches National Push of Its 'Best Coffee on the Interstate'

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Pilot Travel Centers has launched a major new initiative utilizing communications tools ranging from putting messages on its fleet of tanker trucks to launching new social media sites to promote its premium coffees in 2010 and confirm Pilot coffee as "the best on the interstate."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100104/CL31700 )

The initiative includes the company's first official Facebook fan page dedicated exclusively to coffee and a brand new Twitter account.

"We are trying to tell the world about our great coffee program," said Tim Purcell, Pilot's director of merchandising. "Social networks are just another new method we are using to deliver our message."

The Pilot Travel Centers fan page can be accessed by visiting http://www.facebook.com/pilottravelcenters. Fans of Pilot Travel Centers can print a coupon for a free hot beverage, redeemable at any Pilot Travel Center or Pilot Food Mart. Facebook fans also can take a poll about which Pilot coffee blend is their favorite. The readers of Truckers News have named Pilot's coffee offerings the "Best Coffee on the Interstate."

"Our Facebook page serves as a virtual community and information center for our loyal customers," said Jimmy Haslam, president and CEO of Pilot Travel Centers. "We hope our customers will continue to enjoy Pilot's affordable, delicious variety of hot beverages at our travel center locations."

To follow Pilot on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/pilottravel.

In conjunction with the launch of the coffee-focused Facebook page and the new Twitter account, Pilot Travel Centers is offering an in-store sweepstakes for lucky customers to win free coffee for a year. Customers can complete and submit a ballot at any Pilot Travel Center location during the month of January. Six entries at each travel center - more than 1,800 customers - will be selected to win a year of free Pilot coffee. Information about the sweepstakes is available at Pilot Travel Center locations.

All 325 tanker trucks in Pilot's fleet have the new message, "Best Coffee on the Interstate," displayed on the entire rear panel of the trailers.

In addition to coffee, Pilot is unveiling six up-scale tea products. The Revolution Teas are premium teas that have been recognized for their quality. Pilot will introduce new breakfast items popular with coffee drinkers, such as oatmeal.

Pilot Travel Centers LLC is a leading operator of travel centers, catering to professional drivers and traveling motorists in 41 states with over 300 retail interstate properties. The company is headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., employs 14,000 nation-wide and is held in a partnership between Pilot Corporation, wholly owned by the Haslam family, and Propeller Corporation, wholly owned by the funds advised by CVC Capital Partners, a leading global private equity firm.

SOURCE Pilot Travel Centers LLC