March 17, 2006

Boston Market Cooking Up Relief For Indianapolis As It Braves Daylight Savings Time Transition
Restaurant chain will give away more than 4,000 free chicken dinners in the Indianapolis metro area on April 2 following adoption of Eastern Daylight Time

Indianapolis, IN - The mild 'which-clock-is-right?' paranoia. The jet lag-like grogginess. It's no April Fools' joke: Times are changing for residents of Indiana on April 2. As the hotly debated daylight-saving time issue reaches its peak and millions prepare to "spring forward," Boston Market restaurants are cooking up relief for local Hoosiers with a campaign aimed at nullifying the change.

Boston Market restaurants will give away more than 4,000 free rotisserie chicken lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 2. All nine Indianapolis locations as well as the one in Muncie, Ind., will participate. The one-day event is designed to give back the "lost" hour to city residents by preparing their Sunday meal for them.

"When we heard our friends in Indiana would be changing their clocks for the first time in more than 30 years, we knew we had to help them ease their transition," said Trey Hall, chief brand officer, Boston Market Corporation. "We like to think that when our guests choose Boston Market, they get back a much-needed hour of time for their lives. Our everyday mission of giving you more time for your life will have added significance on this historic Sunday."

In a climactic and impassioned vote in the Indiana House last April - during which media reported tearful lawmakers on both sides of the issue, along with abrupt and unexpected vote changes - legislators approved a bill mandating that the state sync up with the rest of the nation in observance of daylight-saving time this spring. The victory ended a deadlocked, decades-long discussion.

Lunches will include 1/4 Rotisserie Chicken, two individual gourmet sides, cornbread and a regular beverage - an average value of $8. One lunch will be given per guest, while supplies last.

In addition to offering free meals, Boston Market informally polled its employees - experienced in observing daylight-saving time - to compile the following clock-changing tips:

• Have a plan. Haphazardly changing clocks may lead to second-guessing - e.g., is the clock in the living room or the spare bedroom accurate, or neither? One solution: Advance primary wrist watches first, and then move through the house systematically, working each room in a clockwise fashion.
• Don't overlook electronics. Clocks on microwaves and stoves are often the annoying afterthoughts when observing daylight-saving time. Failure to change entertainment system clocks - such as those on DVR set-top boxes or DVD players - could throw off future TV-recording and movie-watching efforts. Time zone settings on laptops and PCs may also need a quick accuracy check.
• Hands-off your cell phone. Many modern cell phones track time changes automatically due to daylight-saving time or travel across time zones. Cell phone customers with questions can refer to their phone's user guide, visit their service provider's nearest retail store or call their service provider's help line.
• Stay in the driver's seat. An accurate vehicle clock will eliminate the sudden moments of panic and math games that often occur during Monday morning commutes - e.g., am I late for the meeting? - so take the time to update it on Sunday. Most automobile manuals include instructions and an illustration on resetting the time.
• While you're at it, change your battery. The "Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery" campaign advocates replacing the batteries in smoke alarms every six months, or coinciding with daylight-saving time, to ensure proper function in the case of an emergency. For your family's safety and health, take the time to check your smoke alarm battery.

Visit www.bostonmarket.com to find the nearest Boston Market location in Indianapolis and Muncie.

About Boston Market
Boston Market Corporation, based in Golden, Colo., is a leader in the fast-casual restaurant category. The company has translated its passion for fresh, great-tasting food into two distinctly different concepts. Boston Market restaurants - 630 locations in 28 states - are noted for their easy, convenient, home-style meals. The company also partners with leading supermarket chains to bring restaurant-quality, Boston Market-branded meals into the deli department so shoppers can enjoy the one-stop convenience of purchasing ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat meals at the same time they do their grocery shopping. Boston Market Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of McDonald's Corporation. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.bostonmarket.com.

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