Be a Wiener at Hiller’s

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. – Competitive eating comes to southeast Michigan September 12 – at the Commerce Township Hiller’s, where ten contestants will see who has the most hot dog mettle.

“Competitive eating is big sport these days,” says Justin Hiller, Vice President of Hiller’s Markets and an avid fan of international eating contests. “Audiences love it - there’s a certain energy to the contest and with the Hiller’s Hot Dog Eating Competition, there’s a charity component, too.”

On Saturday, September 12 at 11:30 a.m. 10 pre-registered contestants (age 18 or older) will gather for a 12 p.m. contest. After five minutes, the person who ate the most hot dogs will take first prize: a Pistons game package (tickets, parking and dinner for four) plus the right to designate a Michigan charity to receive $1,000 from Hiller’s. Second and third place winners will choose charities for Hiller’s donations as well, in the amount of $500 and $250, respectively.

Hot dogs are courtesy of Winter’s, the official sausage of the Detroit Tigers.

Contestants must pre-register at one of the seven Hiller’s stores, submitting a completed application and signed liability waiver and showing picture ID to verify their age. Application deadline is Sept. 4; contestants will be notified by Sept. 8.

Gawkers are welcome at the event, which will take place at the Commerce Hiller’s, 39950 W. 14 Mile Road (at Haggerty).

Competitive eating is popular sport worldwide, most notably in the United States and Japan. Although this event is not affiliated with the International Federation of Competitive Eating, it is inspired by their contests. The IFOCE record for hot dogs is 68 in 10 minutes – set on July 4 of this year.

Every contestant at the Hiller’s event will have an approved spotter to assist them during the contest as well as their own bucket for any necessary regurgitation.

“Most people don’t realize that competitive eating is not a new sport – people have been doing it de facto since the earliest days of mankind and it was one of the original athletic pursuits,” says Justin Hiller. “Nearly a century ago, everyone knew the names of competitive eaters like Charles Sylvester Carter and Stan Libnitz. And now, in the past decade, it’s gaining speed and attention again. I’m thrilled to bring Hiller’s into this realm.”

IFOCE folks are proud of their legendary hot dog contest – the annual Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, which is considered a sort of Olympics of competitive eating. The first hot dog eating contest was held in 1916, when Nathan’s opened on Surf Avenue in Coney Island, N.Y.; it’s been held every year since with two exceptions.

“Hot dogs are a perfect food for fast ingestion,” says Hiller. “Maybe it’s the shape or the texture – whatever it is, it is far more conducive to rapid intake than, say, ribs.”

Founded in 1941, Hiller’s Markets operates seven stores in Southeast Michigan. Dedicated to promoting local companies and cottage industries, Hiller’s indicates Michigan products with special shelf tags in every aisle and highlights Michigan companies in its biweekly circular. Hiller’s is dedicated to supporting community organizations – through its active Scrip card program, in support of events and through specialty food fairs serving niche markets like gluten-free consumers. The company also has a long history of working with non-profits, including ALS of Michigan, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Gleaners Food Bank.

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