RECORD NUMBER OF RECIPES SUBMITTED FOR THE ANNUAL FMI SUPERMARKET CHEF SHOWDOWN

CHICAGO – February 19, 2013 – More than 130 supermarket chefs, representing a record 30 different retailers, submitted recipes for the annual Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) Supermarket Chef Showdown before the November deadline and now await their selection among the semi-finalists on April 15.

The chef’s recipes varied across five established categories that include: Healthy Meals; Family Meals; Ethnic Meals; Dessert; and Side-Dishes/Mini Meals/Snacks. The recipes must use at least three eligible ingredients and take 20 minutes or less to prepare (not including prep). Collectively, the recipe submissions employed more than 740 sponsor ingredients.

A panel will review the entries and the recipes from 50 finalists will be sent to McCormick and Campbell’s test kitchens this March to further narrow the submissions. The top-25 finalists will compete live in front of celebrity judges in a special kitchen stadium created on the convention floor at FMI Connect on June 11, 2014 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

“Each day, retailers prepare exciting signature mealtime solutions that not only delight their customers’ taste buds but also provide shoppers with practical demonstrations of kitchen artistry guaranteed to encourage emulation,” said FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin. “The FMI Supermarket Chef Showdown helps acknowledge those who inspire the culinary spirit in all of us.”

“The creativity and quality of the recipes surpassed last year and we expect this Showdown to be fun, yet competitive,” says Phil Lempert, a food trends and consumer expert and the Showdown Executive Producer and Master of Ceremony. “Supermarket Chefs are the unsung heroes in grocery stores and it’s their moment to shine.”

Prizes this year include an all-expense paid trip for two to Mardi Gras 2015; an all-expense paid trip to California to participate in the olive harvest; a “Chicago experience;” an all- expense-paid trip to the Country Music Awards in Nashville; cash prizes; food-centric prizes; bragging rights and more. The top-25 finalists will also receive culinary gifts from Showdown sponsors shipped directly to their homes.

Sponsors for this years’ Showdown include the world’s leading companies: McCormick, Campbell’s, Can Manufacturers Institute, ConAgra Foods, Hass Avocado Board, Hershey’s, Hillshire Brands, Mondelez International, Musco Family Olive Co., Pictsweet and Smucker’s. 

For Media:
Link Supermarket Chef Showdown Video
Judging criteria via www.supermarketchefshowdown.com 
For a complete list of ingredient sponsors, visit www.supermarketchefshowdown.com 
Semi-finalists announced April 15, 2014

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About the Supermarket Chef Showdown
The Supermarket Chef Showdown is an annual recipe competition designed specifically to celebrate and honor Supermarket Chefs. Presented by the Food Marketing Institute at its annual convention, FMI Connect: The Global Food Retail Experience, Supermarket Chefs compete for exciting prizes and get to show case their culinary skills. For more information, please visit www.SupermarketChefShowdown.com.

About FMI Connect 
The Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) newly envisioned tradeshow, FMI Connect, offers attendees a global food retail experience June 10-13, 2014 in Chicago. FMI Connect provides solutions to growing basket size; increasing customer trips; improving margins; increasing market share; and developing leaders:jamilynclothing@gmail.comhip. FMI Connect is the only food retail showcase with something for every aspect of the food retail business: From consumer goods to capital goods, fresh produce to fresh ideas. In 2014, FMI Connect will be co-located with United Fresh 2014, PACK EXPO International, U.S. Food Showcase 2014 and InterBev Beverage. www.fmiconnect.net