Krakus® Partners with Chicago Fire Soccer Club fo

CHICAGO, May 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Krakus ^® , a true imported Polish Ham, is proud to announce the extension of its partnership with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire Soccer Club for the 2018 season. As the team’s Official Deli Meat, the brand will continue the success of the partnership’s first year, giving Krakus fans a chance to enjoy the mouthwatering taste of the brand at select games. Fire fans can also pick up exclusive Krakus giveaway items to celebrate a shared passion for the game of soccer for a second consecutive year.

“Krakus has a rich history in Chicago, much like the Chicago Fire Soccer Club,” said Michael Baughman, Smithfield Foods director of marketing. “Fire fans bring incredible energy and enthusiasm to the stadium. We share that enthusiasm about our imported Polish Ham. We are excited to team up with the Fire again for their 21 ^st season to bring the unrivaled quality and unsurpassed flavor of a true Polish Ham to passionate soccer fans as they cheer on their favorite team.”

As a part of the brand’s partnership, Krakus will also present the Chicago Fire’s Man of the Match , an award determined by Fire fans after each match. Fans will be asked to help determine the Fire player who had the greatest impact during the game, by casting their vote on the Official Chicago Fire Mobile App. The Krakus Man of the Match is featured on Chicago-Fire.com/ManoftheMatch throughout the season.

“The Chicago Fire Soccer Club is thrilled to have Krakus Polish Ham back for a second year as our Official Deli Meat,” said John Urban, Chicago Fire chief operating officer. “Krakus is an iconic Chicago brand and a fan favorite, making the partnership a natural fit. The premium ham is the perfect complement to a game, whether you’re tailgating before or cheering on the Fire from the comfort of your own home. We know our loyal fans will be excited to see Krakus, one of their favorite brands, supporting the Chicago Fire and the broader soccer community in Chicago.”

Krakus will continue to show its support for the Chicago soccer community across various Fire-sponsored Community Youth Soccer events and at the CIBC Fire Pitch soccer complex on Chicago’s North Side, which hosts more than 250,000 adult and youth soccer players and visitors annually. A Krakus consumer sweepstakes will also be announced later in the 2018 season, which will give fans the chance to win Chicago Fire tickets.

For more information and recipe inspiration, please visit KrakusFoods.com . Krakus is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Krakus Crafted with care and expertise in Poland, Krakus is authentic Polish Ham. Krakus is cured naturally with only the finest hand-selected ingredients and recipes passed down through centuries. The result is truly delectable. A one-of-a-kind, mouthwatering taste only experienced with a true imported Polish Ham. Treat your family to the incomparable taste of Krakus, ideal for sandwiches, salads, and other recipes. Accept no imitations. For unrivaled quality and unsurpassed flavor, there is only Krakus.

About Smithfield Foods Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield ^® , Eckrich ^® , Nathan’s Famous ^® , Farmland ^® , Armour ^® , Farmer John ^® , Kretschmar ^® , John Morrell ^® , Cook’s ^® , Gwaltney ^® , Carando ^® , Margherita ^® , Curly’s ^® , Healthy Ones ^® , Morliny ^® , Krakus ^® , and Berlinki ^® . Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com .

About Chicago Fire Soccer Club The Chicago Fire Soccer Club was founded in 1998 on the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, and kicked off its 21st season in Major League Soccer in 2018. The Fire have won six major domestic championship titles, including the 1998 MLS Cup, the 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups, as well as the 2003 Supporters’ Shield. The Club's charitable arm, the Chicago Fire Foundation, was recognized as 2016 Beyond Sport Team of the Year and 2015 Robert Wood Johnson Sport Team of the Year. As part of the national It's Everyone's Game campaign, the Fire have committed to assist in the construction of 50 mini-pitches in underserved neighborhoods throughout the Chicagoland area in the next five years. Anchoring Chicago's growing soccer fan base, the Fire play their home games at 20,000-seat Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. For more information on the Chicago Fire Soccer Club, visit www.Chicago-Fire.com .

Contact: Smithfield Foods Jeffrey M. Jones JMJones2@Smithfield.com (757) 357-8501