Ball Park brand (www.ballparkbrand.com) says it is time to try a little tenderness. The brand known for making great tasting guy food is lighting a fire with the launch of its new Ball Park Flame Grilled Jerky, a jerky that’s dried to be tough and flame grilled to be tender. To introduce the new product, Ball Park brand commissioned a survey to uncover some of the tough situations guys face. And with the help of ultimate tough guy Tommy “Tiny” Lister, a centerpiece of the new Ball Park Flame Grilled Jerky campaign, the brand is inviting guys to tweet their tough challenges to receive a witty yet tender solution from Tiny himself.

Tommy “Tiny” Lister is a character actor and retired professional wrestler who has appeared in a variety of blockbuster films.

“We know consumers think jerky can be too tough,” said Timothy Smith, vice president of marketing for jerky, Ball Park brand. “But jerky isn’t the only tough thing in life that needs a little tenderness, so we’re stepping up with tender solutions to some of life’s tough conversations.”

Survey Says…

According to the Ball Park brand survey, eight out of ten men admit to putting off tough talks; 50 percent of them say they delay the dialogue for a month or more; 36 percent have even faked being busy or sick to avoid a conversation. It’s clear guys need help. In fact, over one in five men would rather clog a toilet in someone else’s home than have a tough conversation. The top five tough conversations guys identified are:

1. Breaking up with my partner
2. Letting my friend know his significant other cheated on him
3. Telling my friend I no longer want to be friends
4. Admitting I did something wrong and apologizing for it
5. Telling my friend his fiancé isn’t right for him

The survey also revealed nearly one in three men would avoid breaking up with a romantic partner in person in favor of a text or Facebook message. And 20 percent of men admit to staying in a relationship they want to end just to avoid the break-up conversation.

Beginning October 19th, guys tackling tough conversations like these can tweet their troubles to @BallParkBrand using the hashtag #HelpMeTiny. Ultimate tough guy Tiny will serve up entertaining, tender solutions via custom Twitter ecards.

Introducing Ball Park Flame Grilled Jerky

New Ball Park Flame Grilled Jerky is dried for toughness and then flame grilled for a uniquely tender texture and superior char-grilled flavor. Made with lean cuts of beef or pork, Ball Park Flame Grilled Jerky is gluten-free and a good source of protein with eight grams or more per serving. It contains less sodium than other jerky1 and no added MSG2. Available in five delicious flavors including Original Beef, Bourbon BBQ Beef, Peppered Beef, Barbecue Pork, and Teriyaki Pork, Ball Park Flame Grilled Jerky can be found in 2.85 ounce re-sealable packages at grocery and convenience stores nationwide. Suggested retail price is $4.99 for pork varieties and $5.99 for beef varieties. It is also available in a 5.25 ounce re-sealable package at select retailers.

“Grab Life by the Ball Park” 

The Ball Park Flame Grilled Jerky launch marks the debut of the Ball Park brand new national advertising campaign, “Grab Life by the Ball Park.” Created by Y&R New York, the new campaign celebrates “go for it” moments. The :30 Ball Park Flame Grilled Jerky TV spot featuring Lister is part of an integrated marketing campaign that also includes digital, in-store, PR and influencer programs.

The new spot shows tough guy Lister observing a co-worker struggling to get a water bottle from a vending machine when his tender side kicks in. After biting into his Ball Park Flame Grilled Jerky, Lister shakes the vending machine to release the water bottle and then delivers it to his co-worker’s desk.

For more information on Ball Park Flame Grilled Jerky and the entire Ball Park brand product portfolio, visit www.ballparkbrand.com or check out the brand on Facebook and Twitter.