Burger King Moves to In-Restaurant Testing with Trans Fat-Free Cooking Oils

MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Burger King Corporation (NYSE:BKC) has begun in-restaurant testing with several trans fat-free cooking oils, it was announced today by John Schaufelberger, vice president of product marketing and innovation. The company is on track to begin a national rollout of trans fat-free cooking oils by late 2008.

“We have done rigorous consumer testing and have narrowed our testing to a few oils that we’re very pleased with. Our move to in-restaurant testing is a significant milestone for the BURGER KING® system.”

“We have been working for more than two years to identify trans fat-free cooking oils,” said Schaufelberger. “Our goal has been to identify trans fat-free oils that allow for the same great taste and texture quality.

“We have done rigorous consumer testing and have narrowed our testing to a few oils that we’re very pleased with. Our move to in-restaurant testing is a significant milestone for the BURGER KING^® system.”

In-restaurant testing measures and refines operational procedures and continues consumer response measurements.

The company will secure commitments from its suppliers for the alternative oils, after in-restaurant testing is complete, in order to ensure a full, continuous supply for the more than 7,500 BURGER KING^® restaurants in the United States and Canada. “Before making promises to our consumers, we want to be certain that we could deliver the taste, texture and quality that our restaurant guests expect from the BURGER KING^® brand,” he said. “We also wanted to ensure that the oils were a healthier alternative.”

The company will meet New York City trans fat-free requirements in advance of its national rollout.

About Burger King Corporation

The BURGER KING^® system operates more than 11,100 restaurants in all 50 states and in 65 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. Approximately 90 percent of BURGER KING^® restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of which are family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. To learn more about Burger King Corporation, please visit the company’s Web site at www.burgerking.com.