Sara Lee Food & Beverage Partners with Celebrity Chef Tom Colicchio in Time for National Sandwich Day -- Nov. 3, 2007

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On the eve of National Sandwich Day, Sara Lee Food & Beverage has teamed up with celebrity chef and television star, Tom Colicchio to show Americans how easy it can be to make great-tasting, premium sandwiches at home. Sara Lee has enlisted Colicchio to offer his expert tips for creating restaurant-quality sandwiches with little preparation time and everyday ingredients. Colicchio will also report on the “State of the Sandwich” offering ideas and suggestions based on current sandwich trends.

“Sandwiches are the perfect food for any individual looking to create an easy but great-tasting meal,” said Tom Colicchio, celebrated chef and owner of Craft and ‘wichcraft restaurants. “Premium ingredients are the cornerstone of my cooking and the key to success at my restaurants. I always stress the importance of using fresh ingredients in preparing any meal, whether formal or more casual, including sandwiches. This approach applies to home cooks, as well as professional chefs. With the range of Sara Lee products, great-quality meats, cheeses, breads and condiments are at your fingertips to help you create a delicious and quick meal with just a few added ingredients.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with one of the country’s biggest names in sandwiches,” said Jonathan Drake, vice president, Sara Lee Deli. “Our product portfolio is expanding to satisfy consumers’ increasing desire for meal solutions in the deli. With a full line of breads, meats, cheeses and condiments, only Sara Lee can provide consumers with total sandwich solutions. Our products, combined with a little ingenuity from Chef Colicchio can create spectacular culinary creations.”

Colicchio says consumers don’t have to be trained chefs or expert cooks to impress friends and family with fresh and flavorful alternatives to the tried-and-true sandwich. A selection of other readily available ingredients such as condiments, fruits and vegetables add flavor and texture to a sandwich for a fabulous meal in less than 15 minutes. More advice from Colicchio:

1. Start with the best ingredients.

• Premium sliced meats and cheeses in many varieties can be found sliced to order behind the deli counter and pre-packaged in the self-service deli for added convenience. Sara Lee meats have no fillers and are available in several varieties including hardwood smoked turkey breast, black forest ham, barbeque chicken breast and chipotle-seasoned turkey breast. In addition, Sara Lee recently launched Gourmet Selections, an ultra-premium line of deli meat that is also U.S.D.A.-certified all natural.

2. Eating healthy doesn’t mean bland.

• Choose ingredients fresh from the produce aisle to add a bold taste and usually an extra crunch. The bread aisle offers a variety of options, flavors and textures. There’s an endless array of options.

3. Think BIG flavor.

• Focus on the combination and intensity of the ingredients rather than the size of the sandwich. The union of lush vegetables and mustards provide a fusion of flavors and excitement to sandwiches to satisfy every taste.

Consumers can learn more about Sara Lee products at www.thejoyofeating.com.

About National Sandwich Day

National Sandwich Day celebrates the birthday of the fourth Earl of Sandwich. It is believed that this 18th-century English noble wanted to eat with one hand during a 24-hour gambling bender. He instructed his servants to serve him his lunchmeat between two pieces of bread and the sandwich was born. To celebrate the occasion, Nov. 3 is officially "National Sandwich Day."

About Tom Colicchio

Tom Colicchio spent his childhood immersed in food, cooking with his mother and grandmother, but it was his father who suggested he make a career of it. Colicchio taught himself to cook with the help of Jacques Pépin’s legendary illustrated manuals on French cooking, La Technique and La Méthode. He then went on to cook at prominent New York restaurants and quickly earned numerous accolades, including being featured as one of Food & Wine Magazine’s “Best New Chefs” and later being honored by The James Beard Foundation Award for “Best Chef New York City” and Bon Appetit’s American Food and Entertainment Award for “Chef of the Year.” He has also received starred reviews and awards for his many restaurants, including Gramercy Tavern in Manhattan and his family of Craft, Craftsteak and Craftbar restaurants with locations in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Dallas. He has also achieved great success with his popular ‘wichcraft sandwich shops with multiple locations in New York, Las Vegas and San Francisco. Colicchio is the author of two cookbooks, Think Like a Chef (2000) and Craft of Cooking (2003), with a third on the way. Most recently he gained fame as the head judge on Bravo’s Emmy Nominated reality series, “Top Chef.”

About Sara Lee

Each and every day, Sara Lee (NYSE: SLE) delights millions of consumers and customers around the world. The company has one of the world's best-loved and leading portfolios with its innovative and trusted food, beverage, household and body care brands, including Ambi Pur, Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Kiwi, Sanex, Sara Lee, and Senseo. Collectively, these brands generate more than $12 billion in annual net sales covering approximately 200 countries. The Sara Lee community consists of 52,000 employees worldwide. Please visit www.saralee.com for the latest news and in-depth information about Sara Lee and its brands.