Kangaroo Express Supports Students' Sport Stacking

CARY, N.C. -- The Pantry Inc. participated in a world record breaking last week, hosting a Wake County elementary school's official World Sport Stacking Association (WSSA) Stack Up! event at one of its Kangaroo Express convenience stores here.

"Sport stacking is a fast-paced, engaging event that aligns with Kangaroo Express' culture to deliver a fast, friendly and clean shopping experience," said The Pantry's Vice President of Marketing Services Dave Henninger. "While our coffee hostess won't be slinging Bean Street Coffee cups quite as fast as these sport stackers can stack, they will make certain our guests get in and out of the store as quickly as possible."

The event, featuring Oak Grove Elementary School's sport stacks team, was part of the 2010 WSSA Stack Up!, a Guinness World Record event where sport stackers around the world attempted to set a new record for "Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations in One Day." The record was set last year at 276,053 stackers. As of Monday afternoon, WSSA reported, more than 290,000 stackers were verified.

In addition to more than 20 students from Oak Grove Elementary School, Kangaroo Express brought in Team USA sport stackers to teach the students stacking tips and to stack along with them as part of the Stack Up! event. All Team USA sport stackers have broken state or world records in sport stacking. Daniel Hong, age 8, and Emma and Heath Slabach, ages 10 and 11 respectively, are Team USA record holders from North Carolina who attended the event at Kangaroo Express.

"Sport stacking is an activity enjoyed by all ages and cultures. It promotes hand-eye coordination, fitness, teamwork and speed and is lots of fun," said Bob Fox, WSSA founder and executive director. "We're pleased that companies like The Pantry recognize sport stacking's ability to inspire students and are thrilled it has reached out to its local community to make Stack Up! a memorable event for Oak Grove Elementary."

Kangaroo Express employees also tried their hand at sport stacking, putting the "fast" in the company's "fast, friendly, clean" mission to the test. They participated with the new University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and Duke University branded coffee cups as part of the Battle for Bean Street promotion that launched last week in the Triangle area.

At the conclusion of the event, Kangaroo Express and Speed Stacks donated the Speed Stacks sport stacking equipment, including Speed Stacks cups, StackMats and competition timers, to Oak Grove Elementary School.

The Pantry operates 1,642 stores in 11 states under select banners, including Kangaroo Express, its primary operating banner.