Iconic Hot Dog Brand Teams up with Rachael Ray as Premiere Sponsor of her "Feedback House" and "Feedback at Stubb's" Music and Food Events

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 12, 2014-- Ball Park® brand, the maker of great tasting guy food, announced today that it has reinvented the hot dog with the launch of a new sub-brand, Park's Finest™, a premium frankfurter with a variety of big, bold flavors and seasonings you can actually see. Fans in Austin attending television personality, bestselling author and music lover, Rachael Ray's "Feedback" music festival that coincides with the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference will get a first taste of Park's Finest.

From March 13th to 15th, Park's Finestwill serve as the premiere sponsor of Rachael Ray's "Feedback," which includes a music and food event at Stubb's BBQ and "Feedback House Party" event hosted by Rachael Ray. "Feedback" is a festival created by Rachael Ray to celebrate the pairing of music and food. "Feedback" began in 2008 as a small party in Austin, TX and has grown to become a highly anticipated event that showcases great food and performances from both established and up-and-coming bands.

"Between Rachael's love for great food and music and the vibrant food culture of Austin, we couldn't think of a better partnership and venue to launch Park's Finest," said Kristin Kroepfl, director of marketing, Ball Park brand. "Just as Rachael helps take every day meals to the next level, Ball Park brand is taking the grilling experience up a notch with new Park's Finest, that contains no artificial preservatives and no nitrates or nitrites added. We've reinvented the hot dog with this premium frankfurter featuring a variety of big, bold flavors and seasonings you can actually see, making it the perfect fit for 'Feedback', an event which showcases some of the boldest music acts of today and the future."

Ball Park Brand Launches Park's Finestincluding Special Recipe from Rachael Ray

Changing the grilling experience for Americans everywhere by reinventing the hot dog, Park's Finest frankfurters are made with 100 percent beef and infused with premium seasonings, offering extra bold flavor and quality taste. Containing no artificial preservatives, no artificial flavors, colors or fillers and no nitrates or nitrites added, Park's Finest from Ball Park brandare available in four great tasting varieties: Signature Seasoned, Cracked Dijon Mustard, Slow Smoked Hickory and Smokehouse Barbeque Seasoned.

To help celebrate the launch of Park's Finest, Rachael Ray has created a delicious recipe attendees will enjoy at her "Feedback" showcase at Stubb's BBQ - a Park's Finest Cracked Dijon Mustard Frankfurter with Kimchi Chow Chow Relish. View the recipe here: http://teamra.ch/1ekynXa.

Park's Finest at Rachael Ray's "Feedback" Music and Food Event

Ball Park brand will provide attendees with a first taste of Park's Finest including its Signature Seasoned and Cracked Dijon Mustard varieties. Ball Park brand will also give attendees a chance to win a Park's Finest VIP experience that will include prime viewing of their favorite bands performing on the Park's Finest main stage at Stubb's BBQ, all while being served great food and drinks. Those who try the new Park's Finestfrankfurters may enter for a chance to win this experience by tweeting what they think to @BallParkBrand using #MakeItFinest. A complete list of rules and regulations may be found here: http://bit.ly/PFrulesVIP.

Ball Park Brand Launches New Ads Featuring Park's Finest

The roll out of Park's Finest will include an integrated 360-degree full-scale marketing program including television, digital, social, shopper marketing and public relations. The new television spot, created by the brand's advertising agency of record Y&R New York, will air nationally on April 14th, and will embody the existing So American You Can Taste It™ campaign.

Available in seven count packages, the new Park's Finesthot dogs can be found in the refrigerated hot dog section of grocerystores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $4.79 per package. For more information about Park's Finest or any of the other items in the Ball Park brand portfolio, please visit www.facebook.com/ballparkbrand or www.ballparkbrand.com.

For more information about Feedback, please visit http://feedback.rachaelray.com/.

About Ball Park Brand

The Ball Park brand was launched in 1957 in response to a request from the owner of the Detroit Tigers baseball team. The Ball Park Frank was such a success, it was expanded nationally. Today, Ball Park products can be found in supermarkets, convenience stores and a variety of sports venues - including Detroit'sComerica Park. For more information, visit www.ballparkbrand.com.

About The Hillshire Brands Company

The Hillshire Brands Company (NYSE:HSH) is a leader in branded, convenient foods. The company generated approximately $4 billion in annual sales in fiscal 2013, has more than 9,000 employees, and is based in Chicago. Hillshire Brands' portfolio includes iconic brands such as Jimmy Dean, Ball Park, Hillshire Farm, State Fair, Sara Lee frozen bakery and Chef Pierre pies, as well as artisanal brands Aidells, Gallo Salame and Golden Islandpremium jerky. For more information on the company, please visit www.hillshirebrands.com.

Source: The Hillshire Brands Company

The Hillshire Brands Company
Ashley La Croix, +1-312-614-8732
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Amanda Ruppelli, +1-201-806-3139


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