7-Eleven bites into global competitive eating arena

MANILA, Philippines - From their humble beginnings as an amusement stint in country fairs, competitive eating events are now internationally recognized, with professional eaters all over the globe going against each other and giving spectators unique thrills.

A test of speed and digestive strength, competitive eating requires participants to consume large amounts of food in a limited period of time. These “gurgitators” gobble everything from fast food to desserts and one of the most popular is an all-time favorite treat — hotdogs. Hotdog-eating competition titles are some of the most coveted and anticipated in this gastronomic battlefield and now, Filipinos can showcase their ingestion prowess with the biggest competitive hotdog-eating event in the country — 7-Eleven’s Big Bite Match.

“Filipinos love to eat and we also respond well to challenges,” says 7-Eleven’s strategic merchandise division manager Armi Andrade. “This combination creates an ideal environment for this particular kind of competition. We aim to provide Filipino competitive eaters a venue that can be recognized on an international scale to showcase their one-of-a-kind skill.”

From now until Aug. 15, Filipino eating machines can go to the nearest 7-Eleven store in their area and avail themselves of the Big Bite Match Combo, which contains five jumbo hotdog sandwiches of their choice and one Big Gulp. To start the journey to hotdog-munching supremacy, participants should finish the five hotdog sandwiches in the shortest time possible. The fastest eaters from 7-Eleven stores nationwide will compete in the semifinal round, which culminates in a grand event where they will be asked to eat as many hotdogs as they can in five minutes. Only one will be proclaimed champion and will receive P500,000 in cash, tax-free.

“This is our first step in infiltrating the global competitive eating arena and we believe that Filipinos, as we’ve proven in other fields, can wow the world with their appetite for victory,” says Andrade. 

7-Eleven is celebrating its 25th year of being the largest convenience store chain in the Philippines. For inquiries about franchising, contact the customer hotline at 724-1031 or the mobile hotline at 0920-945-2036. Visit www.eatingmachinesphilippines.com/ for more information.