Billboard Ruffles Feathers Throughout Pa. (Crispy Frickin' Chicken)

NBC10.com ^ | 2/28/08

[Born Conservative]

ALTOONA, Pa. -- A convenience-store chain is taking heat from critics who say its new billboard campaign promoting a fried chicken sandwich contains foul language.

Sheetz unveiled the "Crispy Frickin' Chicken" billboards at the beginning of February.

Roughly one-third of the company's 346 stores carry the sandwich, and the campaign consists of 100 billboards placed near those locations, spokeswoman Monica Jones said Thursday. The campaign is aimed at young adults, and the company did not intend to offend anyone, Jones said.

"We're kind of known for edgy, kind of brash advertising tactics, and we knew this would spark a certain amount of controversy," Jones said. "That said, we're proud of the campaign."

Sheetz will take down the billboards on Wednesday, when the campaign is scheduled to end, Jones said.

The company recently removed one billboard in Hazle Township, near Hazleton, after local officials fielded complaints.

"There was a lady who left an angry voice mail," code enforcement officer Fran Calarco said. "And a man called and said he had small children and didn't think they should be exposed to that type of language. I told him I completely understood and agreed."

A self-described street preacher from Harrisburg and his wife want local officials to protest a similar billboard. At a Derry Township supervisors' meeting Tuesday, Michael Sucec said his letter of complaint to Sheetz triggered a response that the company was just trying to use a humorous twist on the word to attract customers.

"We don't feel or believe that's humorous whatsoever," Sucec said.

Sheetz Inc., based in Altoona, operates stores in Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.

[Red_Devil 232]

Frikin’ is now fowl language!

[Mr. Brightside]

Any baseball fans here remember the commissioner from years ago, Ford Frick?

That guy was nuckin futz.

[Born Conservative]

I think it’s derived from friggin’, which is derived from, well, you can guess what it’s derived from....

[PBRSTREETGANG]

What in the “H - E - Double Toothpicks” is all the commotion about?

[Ditto]

What kinda Sheetz is this?

Nasty Sheetz?

[meowmeow]

Sheetz advertising is very cool.

Sheetz has an egg mcMuffin type sandwich that they call a "Shmuffin." My DH and I thought that was hilarious.

[Petronski]

It’s also available as a Shmiscuit.

[mak5]

But for a gas station, they make a frickin’ good sandwich.

[weegee]

FReeper?

[weegee]

http://www.firkinandphoenix.com/v1/

Firkin Fare :: So what's on the Firkin Menu?...

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

[LikeLight]

You know there's gotta be a Sheetz here...

[AlaskaErik]

Some people have no sense of humor whatsoever.

[nerdwithamachinegun]

Is that the Sheeitz in Orange?

[Severa]

But for a gas station, they make a frickin’ good sandwich.

Not to mention the Bucket O' Fries. Yummm...

[ShorelineMike]

Courtesy ping.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Not sure..they all look alike to me.

[The SISU kid]

nope-not-gonna-ping-ya

[Slings and Arrows]

Frickin' in the chicken!

[aruanan]

I had an aunt who, back in the early 1930s when she was a young girl, wanted to see what it felt like to swear. My mom found her behind the house saying, “Dolly, dolly, dolly!”