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NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The first National Sandwich Eating Championship is set to take place at CSP's Foodservice at Retail Expo (FARE) on August 12 in Schaumburg, Ill. The event is sponsored by Wakefield Sandwich Co., a subsidiary of Eby-Brown, a leading consumer products distributor to convenience stores in the eastern United States. The Association of Independent Competitive Eaters (AICE) has sanctioned the event, and members of the association with world records are set to compete. Professional eaters will have to work their way through the Wakefield menu, eating several different breakfast, lunch and dinner sandwiches.

Expected to compete is the 95-lb. female eating sensation and fifth-ranked Elizabeth "Rubber-Gut" Cassidy who defeated the great Japanese Food Warrior, Sugawara, at the Hard Rock Café in Tokyo in December 2007. Also competing will be the much-heralded Virginian, Ian "the Invader" Hickman, who is the current World Record Holder in Chili Eating; a title he earned by consuming an incredible 10.2 lbs. in only five minutes at the Mid-West Chili Eating Championship in Canton, Ohio, in February 2008.

AICE Chairman Arnie "Chowhound" Chapman said he is excited about hosting the event and hopes it will draw attention to both Wakefield sandwiches as well as his association. "This eating extravaganza will feature some of America's top food warriors who have all been selected because of their sandwich prowess and their long distance eating ability, which they will need in order to navigate the 22 varieties of sandwiches they will face," Chapman said.

Rich Haen, senior vice president of Wakefield Sandwich, said, "We've never done anything like this before, but are very excited to sponsor the event."

Check out the action at FARE on Tuesday, August 12 at 2:15 p.m.

Springfield, Ohio-based Wakefield Sandwich provides a complete foodservice solution to convenience stores. It offers training, promotions, signage and equipment programs.