Proud to Call Pittsburgh "Home"…Twelve-Foot Tall Charlie the Tuna® Living Large and Enjoying The View From His New Home on Pittsburgh's North Shore

PITTSBURGH, Pa., Nov. 19, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Sorry Charlie…there's a brand new light in town!  StarKist Co., a leading producer, distributor and marketer of shelf-stable seafood products in the United States, announced today that the company's famous spokesfish, Charlie the Tuna®, is enjoying the view from his new home at 225 North Shore Drive.  Charlie, who first swam into the hearts of tuna fans in 1961, can now be seen waving proudly from a new StarKist light that towers 90-feet high over Pittsburgh's North Shore. And in honor of Light Up Night, the newest light to illuminate the city skyline will be officially turned on today at 5 p.m.

"At StarKist we are committed to Pittsburgh and growing our business in this great city," said Donald J. Binotto, President and CEO, StarKist Co.  "This new StarKist light, which features our famous Charlie the Tuna, will shine brightly on Pittsburgh's North Shore and it's a light that will certainly solidify our presence here in Pittsburgh.  Most importantly, we are dedicating the light to our more than 100 employees who work in our global headquarters, as well as our 3,000 plus employees around the world."

StarKist Shines on Pittsburgh's Light Up Night!

StarKist employees and their family members will be attending a special "StarKist Shines" event at        5 p.m., during Pittsburgh's Light Up Night festivities, to officially illuminate the StarKist light for the first time. A special StarKist tent will be set-up in the Hyatt Place parking lot (across the street) and festivities will include a giant light switch to turn on the light, refreshments and an appearance by Charlie the Tuna.

Making Waves on Pittsburgh's North Shore

According to Binotto, the lights are located on the north and west sides of the building.  The lights weight about 1,400 pounds and Charlie the Tuna is approximately 12-feet tall (now that's a Big Tuna!).  In addition, it took a crew of up to 12 people about eight days to secure the lights onto the building.

StarKist worked with a talented team of experts to design, fabricate and install the company lights.  Partners on the project include: Kolano Design, a Pittsburgh-based company that designed the StarKist lights; Colite International, LTD in Columbia, South Carolina, who fabricated the lights; and, Custom Signs Inc., a Pittsburgh-based company charged with installation.

StarKist moved to its new global headquarters at 225 North Shore Drive in July 2010.  The company's more than 100 employees occupy 32,000 square feet in the building.  The building's amenities include a StarKist test kitchen for product and recipe development, employee fitness center and access to the river-side trails.

About StarKist

StarKist Co. is a leading producer, distributor and marketer of shelf-stable seafood products in the United States.  A category leader in innovation, StarKist was the first brand to introduce the StarKist Flavor Fresh Pouch®; StarKist Tuna Creations®, a line of lightly marinated tuna; and, a dolphin-safe policy. As America's favorite tuna, StarKist represents a 65-year tradition of quality, innovation and consumer trust and is well known for its charismatic brand icon, Charlie® the Tuna, who swam into the hearts of tuna fans in 1961 and is still a fan favorite today. For more information on the Company, visit starkist.com. StarKist Co. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dongwon Group.

Source:
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