LONDON, ON – Today, Shelby's Legendary Shawarma and Western University Sports & Recreation announced a new partnership, which will establish the restaurant chain as the Official Shawarma Restaurant of the Western Mustangs for the next 2 years. Shelby's values traditional flavours prepared in unconventional and delicious ways.
"Our organizations share a commitment to the next generation, and we are pleased to have a partner whose mission and vision aligns so closely with what we believe in as an organization. We prioritize our student athletes and supporters in everything we do, with the mission of creating better experiences for everyone." said Christine Stapleton, Director, Sports & Recreation, Western University.
Known for acts of philanthropy and follower engagement, Shelby's is a social media powerhouse with more than 8 million combined followers across all social media platforms including their TikTok and YouTube accounts led by Yasser Ali (aka, Shawarma Man). "Shelby's is committed to playing its part in the development of student-athletes," said Yazan El-Shalabi, Shelby's CEO and Head of Franchising.
"Shelby's has expanded and risen in popularity in recent years," said Yasser Ali, Shelby's Director of Marketing. "We look forward to supporting the Western Mustangs
as they continue to strive for excellence and continue as a powerful force in Canadian university sports."
As part of the multi-year partnership, the Shelby's Legendary Shawarma will be prominently featured on the Western Mustangs Football jerseys beginning with the 2024 season. In addition to serving as the jersey patch partner for football, Shelby's will also have significant branding presence at Western Alumni Stadium, Alumni Hall and Thompson Arena for the upcoming seasons. As part of its commitment to serve student athletes, Shelby's will provide teams with flavourful meal options at competitive prices
prepared with fresh ingredients and the highest quality Canadian sourced proteins. Activations for the upcoming year will include social media collaborations and game intermission giveaways that will reward passionate Mustangs fans that are selected to participate in sport-related challenges.
"We are proud to partner with Shelby's, and together we will introduce the Western University community to legendary new flavours and experiences," said Colin Gagnier, Manager of Fan & Stakeholder Engagement. "With ambitious plans to continually improve the fan experience and provide our teams with the resources they need to succeed, securing committed partners such as Shelby's will help expedite our growth. We're incredibly excited to collaborate with Shelby's to positively impact the Western community and create memorable experiences with a juggernaut brand like Shelby's."
Shelby's mantra "Protect Za Culture!" speaks to their commitment to support the Arabian community and advocate for the traditions that helped establish Shelby's legendary brand. Special cultural initiatives are planned to connect with the London Arabian community in creative and memorable ways.
This year marks and exciting chapter for Western University Sports & Recreation, with the largest video board in Canadian university sport set to be installed at Western Alumni Stadium this summer. "Support is critical as our student-athletes aim to reach new heights, and I appreciate the backing of Shelby's as we continue this journey," said Stapleton
The Shelby's Legendary Shawarma patch will make its debut on the Western Mustangs Football jerseys on Sunday, August 25 when the Mustangs face the uOttawa Gee-Gees at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa. For more information, visit www.shelbys.ca or www.westernmustangs.ca
About Shelby's Legendary Shawarma
Founded in 2015 by Yazan El-Shalabi and Yasser Ali, Shelby's was born in Lambeth, Ontario with a mission to modernize the conventional shawarma. Ten years later, Shelby's has expanded to 28 locations and continues to expand across Ontario. Shelby's serves delicious shawarma and falafels in traditional Arabian flatbread, and the infamous Shelby's Shawarma Poutine. The antics of Shelby's Shawarma Man and the notorious ketchup on shawarma waiver the have become globally recognized.
