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[/media-credit]Chat to Help Celebrate Petty
SMITHFIELD, Va., Aug. 3, 2012 — On Tuesday, August 7, from 1 – 2 p.m. EDT, Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NYSE:SFD) will host a Twitter event that will give motorsports fans a chance to chat live with NASCAR legend Richard Petty and his driver Aric Almirola. The event will bring fans together to celebrate Petty’s 75th birthday.
In anticipation of next Tuesday’s event, NASCAR fans are encouraged to Tweet questions during the week leading up to the live event via Twitter using the hashtag, #SFDPetty. Those who Tweet questions using the specified hashtag, either before or during the event, will be entered into a drawing to win a Smithfield prize pack including two tickets to the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Charlotte, N.C., on October 13, a baseball cap autographed by Aric Almirola, product coupons, a BBQ tool set and more. For more information, please visit .
In January, Smithfield Foods entered into a multiyear, integrated partnership with the Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) NASCAR team. The Smithfield-RPM partnership comes as a natural fit for many reasons.
“The Pettys demonstrate a strong commitment to helping others, which is something we’re happy to be a part of,” said C. Larry Pope, president and chief executive officer for Smithfield Foods.
Smithfield is working with RPM to increase awareness for hunger through Helping Hungry Homes®, Smithfield’s hunger initiative. During Daytona weekend earlier this year, Petty and Almirola helped Smithfield donate 120,000 servings (30,000 pounds) of much-needed protein to Second Harvest Food Bank to help hungry families in central Florida. Smithfield and RPM share a common passion for community improvement initiatives that enhance the lives of our neighbors. For more information about Smithfield’s efforts to alleviate hunger, please visit .
As part of its agreement with Richard Petty Motorsports, Smithfield is utilizing various brands and unique, engaging promotional initiatives throughout the racing season to communicate with existing customers and introduce others to the company’s many fine products. In addition, a variety of Smithfield brands are adorning the legendary No. 43 Ford as primary sponsor in 15 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events in 2012. Smithfield brands include Farmland, Eckrich, Gwaltney and Smithfield, among many others.
A member of the inaugural class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Petty is one of the most successful and respected drivers in the sport’s history, with a record 200 career wins and seven Cup Championships. Petty is also famous for winning the Daytona 500 a record seven times. Earlier this year, Almirola was named as driver of the famed No. 43 Ford and made his debut in the Richard Petty Motorsports-owned entry at Daytona International Speedway.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $13 billion global food company and the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook’s, Gwaltney®, John Morrell®, Kretschmar®, Curly’s®, Carando®, Margherita® and Healthy Ones®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and www.smithfieldcommitments.com.
About Richard Petty Motorsports:
Richard Petty Motorsports (www.richardpettymotorsports.com), co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty, Andrew Murstein and Douglas Bergeron, fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion with primary partners Smithfield Foods, U.S. Air Force and STP and Marcos Ambrose drives the No. 9 machine with primary partners Stanley and DEWALT. In addition, Michael Annett wheels the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang full time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The team is headquartered in Concord, N.C.
