JEWEL-OSCO Offers 'A Taste of Black History' In Partnership with African-American Vendors

VIP shopping event to feature celebrity chef Josh Marks

ITASCA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JEWEL-OSCO^®, a leading Midwest food and pharmacy retailer, will celebrate Black History Month this February with the company’s 14^th annual “A Taste of Black History” program, which honors the contributions and achievements of the retailer’s African-American vendor partners.

“This outstanding group of business men and women plays an important role in our success, and we hope consumers realize that when they purchase African-American vendor products they are supporting these wonderful entrepreneurs.”

The initiative will kick off with a VIP shopping event for customers from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, at the JEWEL-OSCO at 1655 E. 95^th St., in Chicago. “A Taste of Black History” customer tasting events will continue throughout February at select stores.

The kickoff event will feature live music by Chicago band Zzaje’^® and an appearance by celebrity chef Josh Marks, who was the runner-up on the third season of the FOX reality cooking show “MasterChef.” Marks, now the national spokesman for JEWEL-OSCO African-American vendor Real Men Cook^®, will prepare dishes for customers to sample and will be available for pictures and autographs. During the VIP shopping event, consumers can also take advantage of savings opportunities and enter a sweepstakes to win up to $1,000 in JEWEL-OSCO gift cards.

In addition, the retailer will donate a total of $10,000 to three community organizations, including Chicago’s St. Felicitas Church Food Pantry and Grant A Wish Food Pantry, which were chosen for their commitment to hunger relief – a key corporate social responsibility priority for JEWEL-OSCO. Customers will help select the third donation recipient by casting votes for their favorite African-American vendor products during the kickoff event. JEWEL-OSCO will provide the third contribution to the charity selected by the brand that receives the most customer votes.

“‘A Taste of Black History’ gives us an opportunity to thank our African-American vendors for everything they do for our company and our customers,” said JEWEL-OSCO President Brian Huff. “This outstanding group of business men and women plays an important role in our success, and we hope consumers realize that when they purchase African-American vendor products they are supporting these wonderful entrepreneurs.”

Following the kickoff, JEWEL-OSCO will host sampling events at select stores, to help raise awareness of its African-American vendor products. These events, which will also include savings opportunities, are open to the public and will take place at the following locations:

Date	Time	Location
Saturday, February 2^nd	Noon – 5 p.m.	87 W. 87^th St. (Chicago)
Sunday, February 3^rd	Noon – 5 p.m.	7530 S. Stony Island Ave. (Chicago)
Monday, February 4^th	Noon – 4 p.m.	3153 W. 183^rd St. (Homewood, Ill.)
Saturday, February 9^th	Noon – 5 p.m.	2485 W. Howard St. (Evanston, Ill.)
Sunday, February 10^th	Noon – 5 p.m.	9400 S. Ashland Ave. (Chicago)
Monday, February 11^th	Noon – 4 p.m.	17705 S. Halsted St. (Homewood, Ill.)
Saturday, February 16^th	Noon – 5 p.m.	1655 E. 95^th St. (Chicago)
Sunday, February 17^th	Noon – 5 p.m.	9400 S. Ashland Ave. (Chicago)
Monday, February 18^th	Noon – 4 p.m.	87 W. 87^th St. (Chicago)
Saturday, February 23^rd	Noon – 5 p.m.	7525 W. Lake St. (River Forest, Ill.)
Sunday, February 24^th	Noon – 5 p.m.	443 E. 34^th St. (Chicago)
Monday, February 25^th	Noon – 5 p.m.	11730 S. Marshfield Ave. (Chicago)

About JEWEL-OSCO
JEWEL-OSCO operates more than 170 stores in Illinois, Iowa and Indiana. With a market-leading position in Chicago, JEWEL-OSCO stores offer consumers the convenience of retail grocery and pharmacy services. Originally established in 1899, the company and its associates remain committed to the communities they serve. For more information about JEWEL-OSCO, visit www.jewelosco.com or www.jeweloscopharmacies.com.