Wing Zone Scores a Double Win at Atlanta Wings Festival With People's Choice and Celebrity Choice Awards

Wing Zone announced today it won the coveted “People’s Choice Award”voted by guests who attended last week’s first-ever Atlanta Wings Festival, as well as the “Celebrity Choice”award selected by local celebrities and media.

During a pre-festival V.I.P. party, local Atlanta celebrities awarded the “Celebrity Choice”to Wing Zone for its famous Garlic Parmesan wings. Later that weekend, Wing Zone’s popularity was again highlighted as the quickly growing Franchise secured the “People’s Choice”award for its Nuclear wings, thanks to the voting of tens of thousands of wing lovers in attendance at the festival.

Wing Zone gained national notoriety last year when it won “Out of Town Festival Favorite”at the 2004 National Buffalo Wing Festival (in Buffalo New York). The franchise had previously claimed the “Most Creative Sauce Award”at the 2003 National Wing Fest, for its Garlic Parmesan flavored chicken wings –furthering Wing Zone’s reputation for being the home of the best Buffalo chicken wings in the nation.

At the Atlanta Wings Festival, Wing Zone’s popularity was once again evidenced by the long lines at their booth (at one point reaching close to two city blocks long), as festival attendees returned repeatedly to sample another one of their 25 signature sauces.

Winning two of the festival’s most prestigious awards is a great honor for us. And to do it in our home town makes it even sweeter,”said Stan Friedman, executive vice president and partner in the Atlanta based franchise company.  Friedman further noted that Wing Zone’s 25 signature flavors were recently featured on Al Roker’s Prime time Food Network program “Roker on the Road.”  “The national recognition is great, but when your home town locals herald you, it really makes you feel very proud.”

The Atlanta Wings Festival was presented by the Sweet Auburn Business & Improvement Association –the recognized organization that represents the interests of the Auburn Avenue community in promoting development, safety and historic preservation.

With our home-base in Atlanta it was important for us to support this historical local event as a key sponsor and to share our beloved wings and sauces with our home town constituency,”Friedman said.  “Supporting this event offered us the perfect opportunity to celebrate our success, while also drawing attention to Sweet Auburn’s future, not just its past.

The Sweet Auburn Historic District, the birthplace of Martin Luther King, Jr., is on the verge of major redevelopment. The festival objective was to reintroduce the area to Atlanta residents and promote the development of new shops, new housing and a whole new spirit that connects the district's exciting future with a rich, vibrant past, said Chuck Lewis, Chairman of the Sweet Auburn Business Improvement Association (SABIA).

About Wing Zone

Adam Scott and Matt Friedman (no relation to Stan) started Wing Zone in 1991 while attending the University of Florida. The ambitious duo realized the need for more food delivery options for fellow college students other than pizza, and also saw a golden opportunity to start their own business. Within a few years of perfecting their special sauces and techniques for wing preparation in their frat house kitchen, their takeout and delivery concept had six corporate locations. They graduated with degrees in finance, coupled with real-world business experience, and began Franchising in 1999.

Wing Zone is rapidly expanding, with more than 70 units currently operating and plans that will put more 100 units on the map in the next 12 months. Wing Zone was rated a Top 20 New Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine(Jan. 2004), was recognized by Inc. Magazineas one of the fastest growing, privately held companies in America.