Pitmasters Battle it Out in BBQ'S ULTIMATE CHAMPIONSHIP: THE KINGSFORD INVITATIONAL Premiering March 17 on Destination America

OAKLAND, Calif., March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- When the smoke settled in Belle, Mo. at the first-ever Kingsford^® Invitational barbecue competition, only one team emerged with the title of greatest pitmasters in the country. The event made barbecue history by bringing the eight best teams from across the country to do what had never been done before: crown a single team as the undisputed champion of the 2012 competition barbecue circuit. The inaugural competition will unfold on "BBQ's Ultimate Championship: The Kingsford Invitational," airing on the only television network that celebrates the people, places and stories of the U.S., Destination America on March 17, 2013 at 10 p.m. E/P. Fan favorite, Johnny Trigg, earned a spot at the Kingsford Invitational by winning season three of Destination America's hit series BBQ PITMASTERS. Trigg will be among the eight top pitmasters to compete in the winner-take-all showdown to determine once and for all who is the best in BBQ.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130313/CG75963)

Barbecue has caught fire in the last few years, transitioning from a leisure activity to an event that rivals organized athletics. With amateur backyard grilling competitions growing in popularity and top pitmasters earning recognition from the culinary community, the grill has gained an elevated status in American culture. Kingsford charcoal has played an integral role in igniting the flames of competition barbecue and continues to fuel that fire with the announcement that the Kingsford Invitational competition will be back for its second year over Veteran's Day weekend 2013.

"As the top choice for many champion pitmasters and the top-selling charcoal in the country, Kingsford charcoal is proud to celebrate barbecue by partnering with Destination America to air our inaugural best of the best barbecue competition," said Kingsford brand manager, Nick Meyer. "Slow-cooked barbecue is America's signature cuisine, and just like celebrity chefs, there are pitmasters that stand out above the rest in BBQ. The Kingsford Invitational was about celebrating all things BBQ and elevating the great people of competition BBQ."

"Kingsford Charcoal has been a fantastic partner for our signature series, BBQ PITMASTERS," said Marc Etkind, SVP of Content Strategy for Destination America. "Barbecue is an important part of American culture and with our viewers' insatiable desire for more of this delicious programming – we're thrilled to serve up this tournament of tasty meats."

The Second Annual Kingsford Invitational
The second Kingsford Invitational maintains the rules and spirit of the first. "This event changed the face of barbecue," said Chris Lilly, who has been crowned Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest grand champion three times and served as the host for the first annual Kingsford Invitational. "While there used to be so many world class competitions with several pitmasters claiming to be the best of the best, the Kingsford Invitational brings all the grand champion teams together to crown one as the best of the best. I have my fingers crossed that my Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q team qualifies this year!"

The second annual Kingsford Invitational will give the grand champions of the following competitions the opportunity to go head-to-head for title of best team of the year:

• Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest
• Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest
• Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, Kansas State Championship
• Destination America's BBQ Pitmasters Season 4
• American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open Contest
• Kansas City Barbecue Society's 2012 Team of the Year
• Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue

Not only will the winning team of the Kingsford Invitational receive bragging rights as the best competition team of 2013, they also will be awarded a winner-take-all grand prize of $50,000 and the highly coveted Kingsford championship ring. To earn the grand champion title and check, teams will need to turn in expertly barbecued meat in four traditional competition categories: ribs, chicken, brisket and either pork shoulder or whole hog. Invitees will also have the opportunity to submit a fifth category prepared over Kingsford charcoal in the contest's signature component, the "One Bite Challenge" – using the food of their choice to demonstrate their fire-fueled cooking chops and represent their home region. Last year's victorious recipe, Yazoo's Delta Q's Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Shrimp, set the bar high for teams in this year's competition to perfect and plate their region's specialty.

One Bite Challenge Sweepstakes
In an effort to get backyard grillers nationwide involved, Kingsford is offering barbecue fans an opportunity to showcase their grill skills with the One Bite Challenge Sweepstakes. Simply by submitting five ingredients and a recipe name on www.Grilling.com/OneBiteChallenge/ from March 13 to April 15, 2013, grillers will be entered for a chance to win weekly prize packs and entries into the grand prize drawing: a trip to the 2013 Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest to hang out with the 2012 Kingsford Invitational winner. With daylight savings time offering an extra hour to be spent outside grilling, barbecue fans have even more time to perfect their favorite regional recipe.

For more information on the Kingsford Invitational, visit www.Grilling.com, where updates, including selected teams, official rules and judges' backgrounds will be posted as the barbecue season unfolds.

The Clorox Company
The Clorox Company is a leading multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products with approximately 8,400 employees and fiscal year 2012 revenues of $5.5 billion. Clorox markets some of the most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Clorox Healthcare™, HealthLink®, Aplicare® and Dispatch® products, Green Works® naturally derived home care products, Pine-Sol® cleaners, Poett® home care products, Fresh Step® cat litter, Glad® bags, wraps and containers, Kingsford® charcoal, Hidden Valley® and KC Masterpiece® dressings and sauces, Brita® water-filtration products, and Burt's Bees® and gud® natural personal care products. Nearly 90 percent of the company's brands hold the No. 1 or No. 2 market share positions in their categories. Clorox's commitment to corporate responsibility includes making a positive difference in its communities. In fiscal year 2012, The Clorox Company Foundation awarded $3.5 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $15 million. For more information, visit TheCloroxCompany.com.

Destination America
Destination America is the only network to celebrate the people, places, and stories of the United States. The inclusive network targeting Adults 25-54 is available in nearly 59.5 million homes, emblazoning television screens with the grit and tenacity, honesty and work ethic, humor and adventurousness that characterize our nation. Destination America features travel, food, adventure, home, and natural history, with original series like BBQ Pitmasters, United States of Bacon, A Haunting, Cheating Vegas, and Buying Alaska. For more information, please visit DestinationAmerica.com, facebook.com/DestinationAmerica, or twitter.com/DestAmerica.  Destination America is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 209 countries and territories.

SOURCE The Clorox Company