Braveheart Black Angus Beef to be the featured beef at Preakness Stakes from May 16-19 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore

RICHMOND, Va., May 1, 2012 – Braveheart® Black Angus Beef, a premium Midwest-raised beef that is traceable back to its origins with DNA technology, is on the menus of 10,000 U.S. restaurants in 820 U.S. cities within one year since its debut. Braveheart Black Angus Beef is the fastest-growing brand for Performance Food Group, also known as PERFORMANCE Foodservice, one of the leading foodservice distributors in the U.S. Braveheart Black Angus Beef also will be the featured beef at the upcoming Preakness Stakes from May 16-19 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

According to Steve Sands, PFG's Vice President of Protein, chefs and customers like the superior eating quality that comes from Braveheart's Midwest origins and vegetarian diet. They also like that Braveheart beef ─ even Braveheart ground beef ─ can be traced back to the animal from which it came through DNA TraceBack® from IdentiGEN.

From zero to 10,000 restaurants is a gratifying milestone,” said Sands. “We expect Braveheart to continue to gain fans among chefs and consumers throughout the U.S.” He noted that Braveheart sales continue to grow at “double-digit dollars and double-digit pounds, defying the national downward trend in beef consumption.”

Paradise Restaurant Group has seen burger sales increase “exponentially” since it chose Braveheart ground beef for its 28 Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants in 16 states. “Our customers love the flavor and texture, and our chefs are proud to create our awesome burgers with Braveheart’s consistency and uncompromising quality,” said Tom Kempsey, vice president of culinary for Paradise Restaurant Group. “And, the increase in burger sales validates their enthusiasm – and cravings – for Braveheart and Cheeseburger in Paradise."

PFG worked with Kansas-based IdentiGEN, a leader in meat traceability systems, to implement the first commercial solution to trace ground meat back to its origins using DNA technology, which was deployed in November 2011. PFG’s adoption of DNA TraceBack for Braveheart Black Angus Burgers followed the company’s adoption of DNA TraceBack for its steaks, roasts and other beef cuts in May 2011.