First Annual Made for KC BBQ Championship

The Made for Kansas City BBQ Championship is set for June 10-11, at Worth Harley-Davidson near the airport in Kansas City, Missouri. The Outstanding Hospitality Management Group (OHM) is pleased to partner with the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) and Old-World Spices & Seasonings (OWS) to present this annual barbeque contest.

“When we think of Kansas City we think of barbeque and OHM is committed to delivering a uniquely Kansas City barbeque experience to visitors at the airport,” said Milan Patel, president, and chief executive officer of OHM. “This competition, the winning pitmaster or cook team, and the barbeque restaurant are the first of their kind anywhere in the world. Our commitment to ‘local means local’ is evident in our many partnerships to deliver the food and beverage offerings at the New Terminal at KCI and extending into this competition.”

Each year, the newly-crowned Grand Champion will receive a licensing opportunity for one year in an 8,000 square foot restaurant located in Concourse B at KCI. The menu will feature the award-winning recipes as part of the overall concessions program to celebrate local restaurateurs and showcase Kansas City businesses. Additional restaurant features will include The Barbeque Hall of Fame with images, memorabilia, and information about the Kansas City Barbeque Society, American Royal World Series of Barbecue™, and Operation BBQ Relief. There will also be the Meat Mitch BBQ dining experience in Concourse A with a fun backyard patio design.

“From the inception of the New Terminal at Kansas City International Airport we have been intent on having local flavor throughout the facility,” said Kansas City Director of Aviation Pat Klein. “Having competition-winning barbecue offerings that change each year perfectly fits the bill.”

The first Made for Kansas City BBQ Championship would not be possible without the generous support of key local barbeque non-profit organizations and their deep knowledge of the history of barbeque.

“We are thrilled to help the OHM Group authentically tell the story of competition barbeque in the KC region to travelers coming to or passing through Kansas City,” stated Emily Detwiler, chief executive officer of KCBS.

Competition Qualifications and How to Enter
Pitmasters who wish to compete in the Made for KC BBQ Championship must meet the following qualifications by the date of the competition:

• Based in Kansas or Missouri
• Located within 60 miles of Kansas City International Airport
• KCBS registered pitmaster for at least one year prior to the date of the competition
• Competed in a minimum of three KCBS-sanctioned barbeque competitions in the past three years (2019-2021)

Interested teams can register online through the KCBS website at http://www.kcbs.us, starting Feb. 14, at 9 a.m. through Feb. 20, at midnight. All qualified entries will be placed into a drawing for the 36 available spots.  The drawing will be held on Feb. 21, at 5 p.m. and will be shown on Facebook Live.  Those chosen will be notified by KCBS.

About the Competition
For information about the competition, visit the Build KCI BBQ page or contact Amy Jungk, EVP Corporate Relations, Old World Spices & Seasonings, Inc. at 816-861-0400, ext. 1127 or amy@oldworldspices.com.

About Outstanding Hospitality Management Group (OHM) is a Missouri headquartered Airport F&B Concessionaire. OHM operates a diverse portfolio of in-demand local, regional, national, and international restaurants at 13 of the nation’s best airports.

About the Kansas City Barbeque Society  
The Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, promoting, and educating the public about barbeque as a distinctively American cuisine. KCBS is the world’s largest organization of barbeque and grilling enthusiasts, with approximately 16,000 members in the U.S. and over 35 countries. KCBS sanctions nearly 400 barbeque contests worldwide each year; including destination contests such as the American Royal World Series of Barbeque© and the Jack Daniel’s Invitational.

About Old World Spices & Seasonings
A premier manufacturer of custom blended, packaged, dry food products and seasonings, Old World Spices & Seasonings is owned and operated by the Jungk family. Established in 1988, their combined three generations of experience in the food industry have garnered reliance from food and marketing companies worldwide. With a highly acclaimed Research and Innovation lab in Overland Park, Kansas to support the state-of-the-art production facility in Concordia, Missouri, Old World works with their customers to bring the best to the table every time.

About Build KCI
At just over 1 million square feet, the Kansas City International Airport New Terminal project, Build KCI, is the largest single infrastructure project in the City’s history. Slated to open in early 2023, the facility will replace the aging three-terminal complex with a single, modern terminal and 6,000-plus space garage that will improve the traveling experience for residents and visitors. The facility will open with 39 gates and the ability to expand up to 50 gates.