Ironman, a recognized brand in the sport of triathlon, announced Little Debbie snacks as the title sponsor of one of Ironman's newest North American races — Ironman Chattanooga. The inaugural Little Debbie Ironman Chattanooga triathlon to benefit the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America will take place on Sunday, Sept. 28.
“Ironman is excited to team up with Little Debbie for what is going to be a fantastic race,” said Carola Ross, Chief Sales Officer of Ironman. “Ironman athletes have been buzzing about this race since it was announced last year. Chattanooga is a beautiful city that provides a challenging race course as well as warm southern hospitality. Together with Little Debbie, we are excited to deliver an unforgettable race week for our athletes, their families and friends.”
Chattanooga’s valley geography, Tennessee River access and surrounding mountains come together to create one of the most beautiful places to see in the U.S. It also offers a wide range of outdoor activities, making it one of the top destinations for athletes of all types.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of bringing this world-renowned athletic competition to Chattanooga,” said Mike McKee, president and CEO of McKee Foods Corporation, the Collegedale, Tennessee-based maker of the Little Debbie brand. “We are proud of Chattanooga, and we are excited to help Ironman come to our city for this great event. These athletes represent the epitome of achievement in their field, and they are an inspiration to all of us who value discipline, perseverance, good planning and even trial and error.”
“Chattanooga is a fantastic town for outdoor fitness endeavors and we hope the Little Debbie Ironman Chattanooga triathlon will feed enthusiasm for the pursuit of fitness across a wide range of our community,” added McKee. “We are looking forward to seeing Ironman athletes enjoy Little Debbie Snack cakes – they are certainly the best tasting source of energy I know of.”
“We’re thrilled that one of our largest corporations, McKee Foods, has joined the team to support one of our largest sporting events, Ironman Chattanooga,” said Bob Doak, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Over the next five years, this phenomenal event will bring more than 75,000 people and leave an estimated economic impact of $40,000,000 in our community. That’s impressive. I want to thank Mayors Jim Coppinger and Andy Berke for their personal involvement in helping with this event. It could not have happened without their tremendous support or the many others in the community who were involved.”
Little Debbie snacks is set to sponsor the Ironman Chattanooga event through 2016.