The USA National Pavilion organizers are delighted to announce that Yum! Brands Inc. will join as a sponsor of the USA Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo. The two parties today signed an official agreement pursuant to which Yum! Brands Inc., the owner and operator of many world-famous fast-food brands, including KFC and Pizza Hut, will serve as a Founding Sponsor of the USA National Pavilion. The cash sponsorship also makes Yum! the first food and restaurant sponsor of the pavilion.
“We are proud to announce Yum! Brands’ sponsorship of the USA National Pavilion, and feel honored that the world’s largest quick-service restaurant group has chosen our Pavilion as a platform to showcase its brands and its commitment to the China market during the Shanghai World Expo,” Ellen R. Eliasoph, Co-Chair of the USA Pavilion, remarked, “More and more leading companies, including Yum!, are seizing the opport
unity to be a part of the USA National Pavilion and, by doing so, become an important participant in what is sure to be one of the most spectacular events in human history.”
Mr. Eric Han, Senior vice president, KFC Brand General Manager of Yum! Brand Inc., China Division said, “We made a quick decision to sponsor the USA National Pavilion. The United States’ presence at the Expo is of great significance not only to the Sino-US relationship, but to the bilateral trade and cultural exchange between the Chinese and American peoples as well. As a deep-rooted corporate citizen in China for more than 20 years, we have blended into the Sino-US economic environment, and are looking forward to the participation of the world’s biggest economy at the Shanghai World Expo. We hope our efforts will inspire more companies to support the USA Pavilion.”
The 2010 Shanghai World Expo will be held from May 1 through October 31, 2010 with a projected 70 million attendees, 95% of whom are expected to come from Mainland China. This will be China’s first role as host of a World Expo, and already over 180 nations have committed to participate.
At over 60,000 square feet, the USA National Pavilion will be one of the largest pavilions at the Expo. It will showcase American culture, values, and businesses in China’s most dynamic city, while at the same time celebrating the friendship and cooperation between the U.S. and China.
In accordance with U.S. legal requirements, the USA Pavilion is being funded and operated through a non-profit organization. The entity is co-chaired by Ellen Eliasoph and Nick Winslow. The U.S. Department of State is prohibited by U.S. federal law from spending appropriated funds to participate in expositions such as World Expo Shanghai 2010. Therefore, U.S. private sector participation is essential to raise the necessary funds to design, build and operate the USA Pavilion.
About Yum! China
Yum! Brands Inc., China Division, a subsidiary of the NYSE listed Yum! Brands, Inc. is the largest restaurant group in China.
Established in Shanghai in 1993, it provides operations, development, marketing, financial, human resources, public affairs and franchise support to all Yum! Brands restaurants. They include KFC, Pizza Hut, Pizza Hut Delivery and East Dawning company-owned, joint venture and franchise stores in the Yum! China Division (China,Taiwan KFC and Thailand).
As of end of March 2008, Yum! China had established over 2100 KFC restaurants, over 350 Pizza Huts, over 60 Pizza Hut Delivery stores, 14 East Dawning and 3 Pizza Hut Express, employing some 160,000 people. For many years, the company has been ranked number one among the top 100 restaurants in China. In 2007, total revenue of its restaurants was RMB21.5 billion. (company owned). Yum China's growth is the most rapid within the worldwide Yum! organization.
See also:
Chinese-American Community Group to Sponsor The USA National Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo
U.S. Department of State Signs Letter of Intent for World Expo Shanghai 2010