Checkers®/Rally’s® Launches “Potato Skin It 2 Win It”

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. (Checkers/Rally’s), the largest double drive-thru chain in the United States, is celebrating its Loaded Potato Skins new product launch with “Potato Skin It 2 Win It,” a national contest taking place from Feb. 18 – March 18, 2013, where 10 lucky fans will win FREE Loaded Potato Skins or Loaded Fries for a Year.

“The ‘Potato Skin It 2 Win It’ contest is a great way to introduce our loyal fans across the country to our new Loaded Potato Skins, while at the same time giving them a chance to have some fun with our brand.”

“Potato Skin It 2 Win It” invites Checkers/Rally's guests from across the country to try the new Loaded Potato Skins and take a photo or shoot a video showing how they slam or stuff Loaded Potato Skins in their mouths, faces, etc. Fans are then asked to submit those photos or videos via the “Potato Skin It 2 Win It” app on the Checkers/Rally's Facebook page: http://bit.ly/SkinIt2WinIt. After the entry period ends on March 18, all approved submissions will be uploaded and showcased on the Facebook app. Fans will be asked to vote for their favorite, limit one vote per person per day. The top 10 highest vote getters after the voting period ends on March 31 will win FREE Loaded Potato Skins or FREE Loaded Fries for a Year.

Seasoned just like the brands’ famous fries, the Checkers/Rally's new Loaded Potato Skins are decked out with cheese sauce, ranch and crispy bacon, making them the perfect combination of flavor and indulgence guests can now enjoy at the drive-thru.

“Our Loaded Potato Skins offer guests a sit-down restaurant product with the speed and convenience of our drive-thrus plus the signature flavor that you can only get at Checkers/Rally’s,” said Rick Silva, CEO of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., noting the skins are the best potato snack to come to the drive-thru since its craveable fries. “The ‘Potato Skin It 2 Win It’ contest is a great way to introduce our loyal fans across the country to our new Loaded Potato Skins, while at the same time giving them a chance to have some fun with our brand.”

The Loaded Potato Skins launch also taps into consumers’ growing affection for potatoes. According to a study released by Datassential, a leading food industry market research firm, and sponsored by Bayer CropScience, nearly half (43 percent) of consumers surveyed report they increased their potato consumption last year. Forty-six percent report eating potatoes several times per week at home or away from home, with 14 percent eating potatoes daily or more than once a day.

“We’re always exited when we can give guests what they crave. Our Loaded Potato Skins feed guests’ need for a fantastic potato product with big flavor at a small price,” said Silva.

With nearly 800 restaurants and over 25 years of experience, Checkers & Rally's is consistently ranked highest in overall value by guests in the category and has thrived in both booming and retracting economies. The company owns and operates 300 restaurants, ensuring products and initiatives are tested before they are released to the franchise community. In fact, Checkers/Rally’s has added new product lines, such as Classic Wings and Cold Creations, while preserving its craveable food and menu simplicity. With these new facets in place and a strong national presence, both company and franchise-owned restaurants are leading the category in same store sales performance in 2012.

Seeing incredible growth in 2012, the brand will continue that momentum into 2013 with opportunities for ownership available to build restaurants in Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago, New York, Detroit and Miami, among other cities.

ABOUT CHECKERS/RALLY’S

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the United States. The company develops, owns, operates and franchises Checkers®/Rally’s® restaurants. Based in Tampa, Florida, it has nearly 800 restaurants open across the U.S. In recent years, the brand has been awarded several of the industry’s most prestigious awards including: “Best Drive-Thru in America” by QSR Magazine and the “Hot! Again Award” from Nation’s Restaurant News. For more information about Checkers/Rally’s, please visit www.checkers.com