LAKELAND, Fla. World eating champion Joey Chestnut devoured a new world record 11 ½ pints (almost 1 ½ gallons) of vanilla ice cream in 6 minutes Saturday during the Magnify Credit Union World Championship Ice Cream Eating Contest at the 1st Annual Florida Ice Cream Eating Festival.
Chestnut, known for his prodigious intake of hot dogs and Philly cheesesteaks, took home $2,000 for first prize in the first-time event, which attracted over 25,000 people. The second-place through sixth-place finishers won $1,000, $600, $400, $200 and $100, respectively.
“Our Lakeland community really showed us their support by coming out to our fun and affordable family event," said John Santarpia, president of Magnify CU and founder of the event, which included ice-cream making demonstrations, ice cream and food as well as entertainment.
The event was held at Joker Marchant Stadium, home of the Detroit Tigers Spring Training, and near the Bruster’s Ice Cream shop site where the credit union built a new branch. Magnify incorporated the ice cream shop in its building design and cross marketing efforts have helped promote business.
The Magnify Credit Union World Ice Cream Eating Championship featured the return of ice cream to the Major League Eating calendar, as sanctioned by Major League Eating. Major League Eating (MLE), the world governing body of all stomach-centric sports, conducts more than 80 events annually, including the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, N.Y.
