Birmingham-based Taziki’s Mediterranean Café on Wednesday announced its first collaboration with two female NCAA college athletes.
Auburn University softball player Carlee McCondichie and University of Alabama basketball player Hannah Barber are partnering with Taziki’s to promote the Greek and Mediterranean-style restaurant’s healthy dietary options.
The collaboration, announced as the state celebrates Iron Bowl week, will see both athletes make appearances at select Taziki’s locations.
McCondichie, a junior at Auburn, has staked her claim as being a model student-athlete as she received both the First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll and the 2021 SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll.
She is described as being a “crucial” utility player who serves in several positions, including pinch runner, defensive substitution at second base, pinch hitter and a reserve infielder. McCondicie’s batting average of .469 is the fifth highest in the SEC.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity to partner with Taziki’s,” proclaimed McCondichie. “I have grown up enjoying their healthy food.”
Taziki’s advised that it is one of the first fast-casual restaurants to sign an NIL (name, image and likeness) deal with college female athletes.
Barber, a star senior guard for Alabama’s women’s basketball team, is ranked No. 26 in the nation and No. 2 in the SEC in assist to turnover ratio. She has received the SEC Academic Honor Roll every year in her college tenure.
“I am so excited to be a part of Team Taziki’s, there’s no better way to fuel for long days of training,” advised Barber. “They continue to set the standard in their communities by this commitment to women in sports.”
Julie Wade, the chain restaurant’s senior director of marketing, expressed excitement over the partnership as the athletes are set to share Taziki’s-inspired content on their social media accounts.
“We are so happy to have Carlee and Hannah represent our brand,” declared Wade. “Both of these young ladies embody what our customers value most: healthy options for a lifestyle on the go.”
She added, “College sports and community relationships are something of great importance to Taziki’s and our customers. Many of our restaurants are in college towns including Auburn and Tuscaloosa. These athletes enjoy our delicious food, specifically Taziki’s salads with proteins to fuel her athletic endeavors, which makes her the perfect fit with our brand. It is important to Taziki’s to recognize the importance of female athletes and the positive messages they send about living a healthy lifestyle.”
Taziki’s menu boasts original chef-driven recipes prepared daily utilizing over 100 fresh produce items and more than 60 herbs and spices for food flavoring.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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