Kangaroo Express "Salute Our Troops®" Campaign Presents $770K to North Carolina Military Support Organizations

Donations from Kangaroo Express store guests will benefit the USO-NC, Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Fund-NC, Patriot’s Foundation and the United States Veterans Corps

CARY, N.C., Oct. 29, 2013 – Kangaroo Express, the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States, operated by The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), today announced its summer-long Kangaroo Express “Salute Our Troops®” fundraising campaign raised more than $770,000 for North Carolina-based military support organizations, directly supporting North Carolina troops and their families.   

Kangaroo Express will present the donation on behalf of its Salute Our Troops campaign on Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at the North Carolina State Capitol building in Raleigh, N.C. The donation will directly benefit the following military support organizations: 

·         USO of North Carolina, is the lead organization charged with supporting military servicemen and women in the state of North Carolina

·         Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Fund in North Carolina, providing financial aid to North Carolina Army and Air Guard families coping with unusual or unpreventable hardships

·         Patriot Foundation, helping to provide scholarship funding and child aid for children of killed and wounded/injured soldiers based at Fort Bragg, N.C., as well as other selected warriors

·         United States Veterans Corps, dedicated to participating in meaningful service projects and events in the military and civilian community

North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest will join Scott Smith, eastern division vice president at Kangaroo Express and local region directors at Kangaroo Express to present the check donation to the beneficiary military support organizations.

In its third year, the Salute Our Troops campaign raised nearly $2.7 million in total for military support organizations, bringing the grand total to $8.4 million raised over the past three summers.

From Independence Day through Labor Day, June 26 through Sept. 3, Kangaroo Express invited store guests to make donations to the campaign and encouraged communities to share special messages of gratitude to the military. Through more than 1,550 Kangaroo Express stores across 13 states, customers and communities enthusiastically demonstrated united support for military personnel and their families.

"Kangaroo Express guests, associates and partners once again elevated the Salute Our Troops campaign to unprecedented levels this summer. It is their enthusiasm and passion that demonstrates our pride in supporting our troops and their families," said Joe Venezia, senior vice president of operations, Kangaroo Express. "We look forward to continuing to work with state-based military support organizations to help our servicemen and women and their families, especially right here in our backyard of North Carolina."

In addition to North Carolina-based military support organizations, donations from the campaign will directly support the USO, helping to lift the spirits of America’s troops and their families around the world; Fisher House Foundation, donating "comfort homes" at major military and VA medical centers that enable military and Veteran’s families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization; and four other state-based military support organizations in the Southeast.

More than 150 Salute Our Troops celebrations were held at Kangaroo Express stores and community events throughout the southeastern United States led by Silver Star recipient SSG Tommy Rieman and retired U.S. Army soldier and drag racer Don O’Neal, with his custom 2009 Mullis Salute Our Troops Dragster. The events included Family Fun Nights, inviting military families out for a free night of entertainment, food and fun.  Banners signed with messages of thanks and appreciation by store guests throughout the tour are being shared with troops and their families at USO centers throughout the Southeast and overseas.

Salute Our Troops presenting sponsor, PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies with iconic brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade and Frito-Lay, was the leading corporate supporter of Kangaroo Express’ campaign for the third consecutive year. To view additional Salute Our Troops partners, including McLane and Rockstar, please visit www.KESalute.com/partners.

For more information, visit the Salute Our Troops website at www.KESalute.com.

To view photos of this summer’s Salute Our Troops events, visit Kangaroo Express’ Facebook page.

About The Pantry and Kangaroo Express

The Pantry’s Kangaroo Express® convenience stores meet the daily food and fuel shopping needs of guests. As of August 6, 2013, the Company operated 1,559 stores in thirteen states under select banners, including its primary operating banner Kangaroo Express. The Pantry is one of the nation’s largest convenience store chains and the leading independently operated chain in the southeastern United States. The Pantry is headquartered in Cary, N.C. For more information, visit www.thepantry.com.

Kangaroo Express offers hot and cold beverages, snacks, fresh foods, gasoline and a wide assortment of merchandise and services for guests’ on-the-go lifestyles. It is home to more than

220 foodservice restaurants, including Subway and Dairy Queen. Kangaroo Express associates are committed to providing store guests with the fastest, friendliest and cleanest shopping experience.

With more than half of its stores located within 25 miles of a military installation, Kangaroo Express has supported the military and their families for many years, including raising millions of dollars each year for the USO and other military support organizations as part of its summer-long Salute Our Troops® fundraising campaign. For more information, visit www.kangarooexpress.com or visit us on Twitter and Facebook.

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