Thickburger Thursday

Ponder Enterprises, Inc. and the Hardee’s of Donalsonville partnered with the JV and Middle School football teams this season.  Every Thursday during home games, people could sign up to compete in a Monster Thickburger eating contest after the game.  The winner took home a $25 Hardee’s gift card.  Ponder Enterprises donated $250 to both the JV and Middle School teams.

There were six home games and each week the contest grew bigger and bigger.  By the end of the season the contestant pool had double and the number of people attending the games had increased.  Coaches attributed the increased attendance to Hardee’s partnership and participation.

Contestants Chow Down!

Week 1 Winner finished in 1 minute 7 seconds.  Wow!

Combo Day

Ponder Enterprises, Inc. and the Hardee’s of Donalsonville partnered with the Seminole County football team and Quarterback club for the third straight year.  The first year Ponder Enterprises set a record nationwide for the most Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders sold in a single day.  This year they decided to mix things up and made the theme Combo Day, striving to sell the most combos in a single day.  The previous record for Donalsonville and the company was 688 sold.  For Combo Day, held the Friday of Labor Day Weekend, a new record was set with 860 combos sold.  With the new record accomplished, Hardee’s donated $500 to the Quarterback Club.

Combo purchases for breakfast, lunch and dinner were all tallied in the count.  Fans that wore their Green and White school colors received $1 off a combo purchase.  And with your purchase, customers were entered to win prizes including a tool set, grilling tools, picnic basket, set of 52 free combos, season tickets to Troy University football, and two tickets to the UGA versus TN ball game.

The morning kicked off with a radio remote with the Head Football coach for the Indians and the local station that covers Seminole County football.  Inside the restaurant, customers could watch highlight film from 2011 ball games.  After school, the AP students set up in the lobby and offered free face painting.  The Hardee’s of Donalsonville loves to partner with the local school, their students and sports teams. 

Coach Ingram discussing strategy while off the air

Mike did a great job setting up the highlights reel.  Eventually we found something to hold the DVD player!

AP students had fun face painting after school.

Chicken Tender Day

Friday, September 9th, the Hardee's of Donalsonville held a Chicken Tender Day in hopes of breaking its own previous national record set last year.

In 2010, after the successful roll out of the Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders, Corporate started looking around to find out who had the single biggest Chicken Tender sales on a single day.  The Hardee's of Donalsonville fell just short of the top, only 21 tenders behind first place.  The top restaurant in America had sold 1142 and Donalsonville had sold 1121 on the Friday before the 4th of July.  Determined to be #1, the Hardee's of Donalsonville rallied the town around this mission and they succeeded.  On September 3, 2010, they sold 2511 Chicken Tenders in one day setting a new national record.  With the help of the Quarterback Club from Seminole County High School, businesses around town, travelers just passing through to the beach, and all our local customers they became the best in the nation.

This year we fell just short of topping last year's numbers.  Donalsonville sold 1752 in a single day, another great record to be proud of.  The day started out with Coach Ingram from Seminole County joining us during a radio remote to discuss that night's football game against Early County.  Continuing the excitement throughout the entire day, Hardee's raffled off prizes every hour until the football game started that night.

Coach Ingram on Live 101.9

Thanks to our many vendors that donated the exceptional prizes - HED, Dr. Pepper, Comcast Spotlight and Culumlus Tallahassee.  Prizes included 200 piece tool sets, NFL game ball, Oakley sunglasses, hats, ESPN coolers, tickets to Univeral Studios in Orlando, tickets to a Cirque du Soleil performance in Tallahassee, and a Getaway for 2 with a choice for 21 different destination locations to choose from.