MIAMI, Jan. 5 -- The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(TM) and their friend April will shred, carve, skate, rip and ride their way into BURGER KING(R) kids meals as five extreme sports-themed toys from January 5, 2004 to February 1, 2004 at participating BURGER KING(R) restaurants nationwide, while supplies last. In addition to the premiums, Burger King Corporation, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. and Mirage Licensing, Inc. have collaborated to have these "shell-raising" heroes educate kids about the importance of incorporating physical activity into kids' everyday lives, as part of Burger King Corporation's partnership with the President's Challenge, a program of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
"The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have both a new and retro appeal that will interest parents and our young Guests," said Brian Gies, senior director, youth and family marketing, Burger King Corporation. "Coupling these heroes with an extreme sports theme allows us to entertain kids as well as educate them regarding simple things they can do every day to harness the fire and energy within each of them."
The five exciting kids premiums featured in this promotion combine the popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters, as seen in the new cartoon series on 4Kids Entertainment's FOX BOX(TM), with hip, extreme sports such as street luge, skateboarding, motocross and snowboarding. Kids can enjoy Luge Dude Leonardo(TM), Spin-Out Michelangelo(TM), Lift-Off Donatello(TM), Rev-Up Raphael(TM) or Aerial-Twist April(TM) for immediate fun at the restaurant or at home.
These characters will also be used to help spread the word to kids and their parents about the benefits of physical activity. Communications in Burger King Corporation's restaurant tray liners, kids meal bags, birthday mailers, Adventures newsletters and online at burgerking.com will highlight the Turtles giving kids fitness tips, taking the President's Challenge and receiving the Presidential Physical Fitness Award patch and Certificate. Burger King Corporation announced a partnership with the President's Challenge program in December 2003.
"The Turtles' adventures, friendship, teamwork and humor have made them a hot property with kids and adults alike for many years," said Alfred R. Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids Entertainment. "We are pleased to partner with Burger King Corporation to bring these popular characters to its guests nationwide."
About Burger King Corporation
We Take Pride in Serving Our Guests the Best Burgers and a Variety of Other Great-Tasting, Healthy Foods Cooked Over an Open Fire. That's What We're All About.
The BURGER KING system operates more than 11,350 restaurants in all 50 states and in 57 countries and territories around the world. Ninety-one percent of BURGER KING restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades.
Burger King Holdings, Inc., the parent company, is private and independently owned by an equity sponsor group comprised of Texas Pacific Group, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. In fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, Burger King Corporation had system-wide sales of $11.1 billion.
To learn more about BURGER KING, please visit the company's website at www.burgerking.com.
About 4Kids Entertainment
Headquartered in New York City with international offices in London, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE) is a global provider of children's entertainment and merchandise licensing. 4Kids, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, provides domestic and international merchandise licensing; television, film, music and home video production and distribution; media planning and buying; product development; and Web site development. For further information, visit the Company's Web site at www.4KidsEntertainment.com.
About Mirage Licensing, Inc.
Mirage Licensing, Inc. is the licensing arm of a group of companies (Mirage Studios, Inc., Mirage Management, Inc., Mirage Publishing, Inc.) located in Northampton, Massachusetts that for 18 years has administered, nurtured and protected the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles property, one of the most successful and respected worldwide children's entertainment and merchandise properties of all time.
