"We established this program to recognize the daily culinary feats demonstrated in grocery store kitchens," Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI, said. "We know that consumers go to the grocery store nearly twice a week, so why shouldn’t they be motivated by their local deli manager in the same way that they tune into their favorite chef television personality.”
The event will judge participants across all major departments in grocery in four categories: Ethnic, Indulgent, Family Meals and Healthy Alternatives. There is no limit to number of participants per company, and any grocery store foodservice professional is welcome to submit one recipe per category. The top-five competitors in each category will compete in Dallas, but only one of the 20 will be recognized as Grand Chef.
Prizes for Supermarket Chef Showdown include:
Sponsors of the event will donate product and contribute to the competitors’ flavor profiles. The event’s title sponsor, McCormick & Co, Inc. will join ingredient partners including, The Pictsweet Company, The Hershey Company, Campbell Soup Company, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Kraft Foods, Inc., J.M. Smucker Company and ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Supermarket Guru® and FMI Supermarket Chef Showdown Emcee, Phil Lempert, said: “The showdown is all about celebration - the celebration of our fabulous supermarket food offerings; a celebration of the chefs, cooks and store staff who prepare these foods; a celebration of flavorful ingredients; and most importantly, a celebration of the unique recipes that are offered in supermarkets across the country.”
Deadline for recipe submission is March 15, 2012. Participants can visit www.SupermarketChefShowdown.com for official rules and to submit recipes.
Spread the word:
Follow @FMI_ORG and use the hashtag #SupermarketChef
Find our Supermarket Chef Showdown Facebook event
Like our sponsors and learn more from them:
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000 retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annual sales volume of nearly $650 billion. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent operators. Its international membership includes 126 companies from more than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.
More Events
More Publications
» Facts & Figures