World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and Aramark Announce Grand Opening of Official WMOF Retail Pop-Up Shop

Philadelphia, PA (September 9, 2015) – The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), the official retail vendor of event merchandise for the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and Papal visit,  today celebrated the grand opening of the official World Meeting of Families merchandise pop-up shop.

Located at street level of the Aramark Tower in Philadelphia (1101 Market Street), the pop-up shop is the first location to sell officially licensed and branded World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 merchandise. Open from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., seven days a week (September 9-27), the store features a selection of traditional branded merchandise including t-shirts, knit scarves, keychains and coffee mugs, to Pope Francis and faith-based merchandise, including rosaries, holy medals and prayer cards.

“Being less than two weeks away from welcoming the world and Pope Francis to Philadelphia, we are delighted to officially open the World Meeting of Families retail pop-up shop and offer visitors and residents alike the opportunity to purchase beautiful souvenirs and special mementos right in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia,” said Donna Crilley Farrell, Executive Director of the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015.  “We are so blessed to have Aramark, one of Philadelphia’s greatest companies, as our incredible partner and we are grateful for their commitment to providing individuals from across the country and around the world with a distinct way to cherish the wonderful memories made during this event for years to come.”

During the week of the World Meeting of Families Congress and Papal Visit there will also be official retail locations inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center (September 21-27), at Independence Mall (September 26), and on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (September 26-27). The full catalog of more than 200 commemorative items is available online at shop.worldmeeting2015.org.

“The opening of the official World Meeting of Families retail pop-up shop signifies yet another milestone in the lead up to World Meeting of Families Congress and Pope Francis’ visit,” said Carl Mittleman, President, Aramark’s Sports & Entertainment Division. “Aramark is excited to welcome the world to Philadelphia and looks forward to helping create a memorable experience commemorating this historic occasion with special mementos and keepsakes.”

All merchandise is customized to reflect the distinct experience and events of the Eighth World Meeting of Families, as well as to commemorate this historic event for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the City of Philadelphia.

Headquartered in Philadelphia for 54 years, and with decades of hospitality experience, Aramark is uniquely qualified to provide an optimal merchandise selection, enhancing the guest experience with precious keepsakes from their visit to Philadelphia. In addition to serving more than 600 clients across the Philadelphia region, Aramark’s retail experiences engage and delight visitors at thousands of locations in a diverse array of venues throughout the United States, including cultural attractions, sporting events, museums and national parks. Above all else, Aramark is committed to delivering experiences that enrich and nourish lives.

For more information regarding the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, visit www.WorldMeeting2015.org.  For more information regarding Aramark and its outstanding lines of professional services around the world, please visit www.aramark.com. For information regarding The Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family, please visit www.familiam.org/famiglia_eng/00002554_HOME_ENG.html. You can also engage the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia on Facebook (World Meeting of Families 2015) (Encuentro Mundial de las Familias – Filadelfia 2015), Twitter (@WMF2015) (@WMF2015ES) and Instagram (WMF2015).

About World Meetings of Families

Beginning with 1994, The Year of the Family, the Pontifical Council for the Family has been responsible for organizing the World Meetings of Families in Rome (1994); Rio de Janeiro (1997); Rome (2000); Manila (2003); Valencia (2006); Mexico City (2009); Milan (2012); and now, Philadelphia (2015).  Since its inception by Saint John Paul II, the World Meeting of Families has sought to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe.

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) is in the customer service business across food, facilities and uniforms, wherever people work, learn, recover, and play.  United by a passion to serve, our approximately 270,000 employees deliver experiences that enrich and nourish the lives of millions of people in 21 countries around the world every day.  Aramark is recognized among the Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE and the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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