QuickChek Marks 21st Year as Balloon Festival Title Sponsor
READINGTON, N.J. -- QuickChek is returning as the title sponsor of the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning. 2013 marks the 21st time the convenience store retailer is sponsoring the annual event.
"We pride ourselves in maintaining a presence within the communities we serve. It is this sense of community that makes our organization proud to be part of the festival year after year," said QuickChek President and CEO Dean Durling. "It is a great opportunity for us to showcase our award-winning customer service and help throw the biggest party of the summer."
Based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., the c-store retailer has been named one of the Best Companies to Work For in New Jersey and New York. The company operates 133 locations throughout New Jersey and southern New York, including 12 pharmacy stores and 37 convenience stores with fuel.
"We're proud of the company we keep, and we couldn't be more proud of the relationship we enjoy with QuickChek," said Festival Executive Producer Howard Freeman. "They are a true partner in every sense of the word. They know how to maximize their involvement over several months leading into the actual festival weekend in July and share our belief in being actively involved within our community throughout the year."
The balloon festival has raised more than $2.1 million for local charities and non-profit organizations since The Festival Group and QuickChek came together in 1993. The event has an economic impact of $42.7 million on the state's travel and tourism, as well as local economies.
QuickChek's presence at the event includes a signature special-shaped hot air balloon as well as food and beverage tastings. The company also sets up a 2,700-square-foot replica c-store where the 165,000 attendees can get oven-toasted subs, breakfast sandwiches, hot and iced coffees, frozen drinks, milkshakes and more. QuickChek also offers a hospitality tent.
Off site, company stores serve as the festival's exclusive retail ticket outlet with tickets going on sale at an Early Bird savings of 43 percent off the gate price beginning Memorial Day.
This year's three-day festival will be held July 26-28 at Solberg Airport in Readington, N.J.
It features twice-a-day mass ascensions of 100 hot air balloons from around the world, a live concert series with Grammy Award-winning artists and day-long activities and entertainment.
The QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning has been named one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2013 by the American Bus Association's international tour and motorcoach operators, the sixth time the festival has received this honor.