Medifast renews sponsorship of Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro team for 2008

Fast on the heels of the Nature Valley Grand Prix last month, and still part way through the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling team’s inaugural season, co-title sponsor Medifast Inc. announced plans to continue its sponsorship of the team, led by Jonas Carney, for the 2008 season.

"It's a very natural and healthy fit for the Medifast brand," said Mike McDevitt, chief executive officer of Medifast Inc. "Cycling as a sport attracts such an educated, health and nutrition-conscious demographic that partnering with a pro cycling team makes a lot of sense to us as a company. Plus, with the attention the team has attracted this season, it really was a simple and very rapid decision to continue our involvement into the 2008 season."

Details will be worked out in the coming weeks. Kelly Benefit Strategies is a Maryland-based group insurance consultant and brokerage firm. For now, the team is focused on the rest of the race calendar, highlighted by two top five placements at the Nature Valley Grand Prix.

"Medifast is a fantastic partner in our pro cycling team venture," said John Kelly, the president of Kelly Benefit Strategies. "With their deep knowledge and expertise in nutrition, they are a natural complement to our Total Benefits Solutions focus and message. Thanks to their continued support and involvement, as well as that of our partners, we're going to continue growing a healthy, winning squad for the new season."

The Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast team is managed by Minneapolis-based Circuit Global Sports Management.

"This is terrific news," said managing director Charles Aaron. "It's really still early in the year to be thinking about the 2008 season, but we're thrilled to have this validation of how our team has grown and what we've achieved for our partners' investment this year. We are facing a very busy couple of months as we race through the second half of our 2007 calendar, but we're also focused firmly on what's coming down the road next year. There will be big plans in place."