Shoppers Saved from Cookware Catastrophe

Five JEWEL-OSCO shoppers whose kitchen cookware was so old, banged up and worn out that it resulted in downright disastrous meals are hopefully saved from future cookware catastrophes. As the winners of the grocery retailer’s "Cookware Intervention Contest,” each has received a complete set of high-quality professional cookware valued at $400.

As part of the contest, shoppers in Illinois and Indiana were invited to share a photo and written essay on www.jewelosco.com/intervention describing their offending cookware and the not-so-hot results. A panel of judges then evaluated numerous tales of cooking woes and narrowed it down to five winners who each received a cookware intervention in the form of a free eight-piece Thomas Professional Cookware set. Judges included Kris Kelly, radio personality, WVAZ-FM; Robin Rock, radio personality, WLIT-FM; Jill Cataldo, blogger, supercouponing.com; and M.J. Tam, blogger, Chicagonista.com.

"The competition was fierce because just about everyone had a cooking disaster that might have been prevented with the right cookware. We’re pleased to reward the winners with high-quality kitchen essentials to help them successfully prepare foods their families love,” said JEWEL-OSCO President Keith Nielsen.

Out of the fry pan and into the spotlight

The contest winners whose old cookware — and its results — were judged most in need of an intervention include the following:

• Newlywed Ashlee Valavala of Evanston, Ill. who doesn’t find the chips of non-stick coating from her hand-me-down fry pan very appetizing.
• Ed Straub of Chicago who submitted a poem about his heavy, rusty, iron skillet that turns his eggs black and crusty.
• Kim Wright of Plainfield, Ill. who loves her mom, but doesn’t care much for the vintage avocado green cookware she gave her when she moved out.
• Michelle Wehr of Batavia, Ill. who has a year’s supply of cooking spray just so she can cook without everything sticking to her worn-out pots and pans.
• Silvia Vega-Mitchell of Naperville, Ill. who inherited what she believes to be a 40-year-old pot from her mother.

Cooking up rewards

The Cookware Intervention Contest is part of a special cookware promotion going on now at more than 170 JEWEL-OSCO stores in the Chicago area and Northwest Indiana, to reward customers for shopping at their local JEWEL-OSCO. Through this promotion, customers who shop with their Preferred Customer Card^® through Jan. 12, 2011 will receive a reward sticker for every $10 spent on eligible purchases. As the stickers are collected, customers will be able to place them on saver cards, which can then be redeemed at participating stores through Jan. 26, 2011 for eight different Thomas Professional Cookware pieces, for only a penny each. Customers can choose from the following pieces of cookware:

• 7.8-inch non-stick fry pan — 1 cent with 50 reward stickers or $5.49 with 25 stickers
• 10.2-inch non-stick fry pan — 1 cent with 70 reward stickers or $8.99 with 35 stickers
• 7.8-inch casserole with lid — 1 cent with 80 reward stickers or $9.99 with 40 stickers
• 9.4-inch sauté pan with lid — 1 cent with 90 reward stickers or $11.99 with 45 stickers
• 10.6-inch square grill pan — 1 cent with 90 reward stickers or $11.99 with 45 stickers
• 9.4-inch Dutch oven with lid — 1 cent with 100 reward stickers or $12.99 with 50 stickers
• 11-inch non-stick stir-fry pan with lid — 1 cent with 100 reward stickers or $12.99 with 50 stickers
• 13.7-inch x 10.1-inch roasting pan with rack — 1 cent with 130 reward stickers or $19.99 with 65 reward stickers

Thomas Professional Cookware is made of hard anodized aluminum, an extremely durable, lightweight and stain-resistant material. The anodizing process makes it twice as strong as stainless steel and 10 times harder than traditional aluminum. The pieces feature a non-stick coating, making it easier to prepare healthier meals using less fat or oil and making the pieces easier to clean. All items are certified as dishwasher safe, so cleanup is a snap. The suggested retail prices of the cookware pieces range in value from $29.99 to $89.99. For more information about the cookware promotion, visit www.jewelosco.com/cookware or call (877) 932-7948.

About JEWEL-OSCO

JEWEL-OSCO, a SUPERVALU company, operates 183 stores in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. With a market-leading position in Chicago, JEWEL-OSCO stores offer consumers the convenience of combined grocery and pharmacy retail, in addition to services such as fuel centers at select locations. Originally established in 1899, the company and its associates remain committed to the communities they serve. For more information about JEWEL-OSCO, please visit www.jewelosco.com or www.jeweloscopharmacies.com.