White Castle Celebrates National Hamburger Month With the Launch of a Slyder(R)-Scented Candle, Special Guest Employees and Craveable Swag for Celebrity Fans

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- During the month of May, America's first fast-food hamburger chain will pay homage to the hamburger with online promotions, the launch of a Slyder®-scented candle benefiting Autism, the recruitment of elected officials to work behind the grill and the delivery of "Sealed With A Crave" (S.W.A.C.) gift cases to its biggest celebrity fans.

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White Castle started the 100-percent-beef-patty tribute back in 1992 as National Hamburger Week and just one-year later decided to add three more weeks of burger bliss to make National Hamburger Month.

Each year, White Castle celebrates throughout the month of May with a host of customer appreciation promotions and other craveable activities.

To commemorate its 18th annual celebration of National Hamburger Month, White Castle has teamed up with Laura Slatkin, often called the "queen" of home fragrances, to introduce a candle with the steam-grilled-on-a-bed-of-onions scent of America's first fast-food hamburger. Packaged in a ceramic holder that reproduces the signature cardboard sleeve of the White Castle Slyder®, the candles are available in select White Castle restaurants and on the WhiteCastle.com website. Candles sell for $10 each, with net proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks.

White Castle has begun enlisting members of Congress from its regional markets to learn the sacred art of hamburger preparation.

"We are thrilled that several members of Congress have expressed an interest to volunteer their time and (most importantly) their burger-grilling skills at various White Castle locations throughout the month," said Jamie Richardson, vice president of corporate and government relations.

White Castle has always been a favorite of celebrities, media personalities and other pop culture figures. The fast-food chain will be giving thanks to their famous fans with a S.W.A.C. case filled with White Castle goodies. Devoted Facebook fans and Twitter followers will also have a chance to win their own S.W.A.C.

The fast-food chain also will be debuting new White Castle merchandise the week of May 3, 2010. New merchandise can be purchased at the House of Crave store located at: www.lpestore.com/whitecastle.

On the heels of National Hamburger Month, in early June White Castle will begin accepting applications for its Craver's Hall of Fame. More information can be found at www.whitecastle.com.

About White Castle

White Castle is a family-owned business based in Columbus, Ohio that owns and operates 421 White Castle Restaurants in 11 states. The company was founded in Wichita, Kansas in 1921 and was the first fast-food hamburger chain. For more information on White Castle, visit www.whitecastle.com.

SOURCE White Castle